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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 
WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 
(716)873-4503  . 


6^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


•^^mn 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notas  tachniquas  at  bibiiographiquas 


The 
tot 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I   Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 

n 


n 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/ou  pelliculAe 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Letit 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reiii  avac  d'autres  documents 


Tight  oinding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  sarrde  paut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^as 
lors  d'une  rastauration  apparaissant  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  fiimias. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplimentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  la  mailleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  it6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  ddtails 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdas 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^as  et/ou  pellicuides 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolor^es,  tacheties  ou  piqu6es 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


r~T|    Showthrou'jh/ 


Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrou'jh/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigale  de  i'impression 

Includes  supplementary  inaterial/ 
Comprend  du  material  suppl^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  & 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
pos 
oft 
film 


Ori( 
beg 
the 
sior 
oth( 
first 
sior 
or  il 


The 
sha 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff 
enti 
beg 
rigli 
reqi 
met 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


'^mni''.^ 


tails 

du 
Ddifier 

une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  hare  he*  been  reproduced  thanka 
.to  the  generosity  of: 

IMIiltlMmiorial  Library 
McMaitar  Univanity 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmA  f ut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
ginArositi  da: 

Mills  Msmoriae  Library 
McMastar  Univanity 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  MA  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet6  de  Texemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmte  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  •^►(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
to 


pelure. 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

''i/ 


6- 


■> 


c(>  ■  m 


iPe^/^ 


T  y 


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*(. 


W  i~ 


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or  Ti 


fttABLE   MAjOf^GENERAL 

A  EL    PO'fl^Ami 


^theSTATB&OCIBTTOftheClMClMNATf 

ift  Connecticut. 


DAVID   HUMPHREYS. 


sss 


I  ■   I 


Jt   t*    F    a 


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"9»  I? 


MdtilP 


•.^' 


To  the  Honorable- 


Col.  Jeremiah  WADswoRUff, 

PkssiDEi^T  of  ^  the  State   SociETr  of  the 
CiNCiifNATi  in  Connecticut,  &C.&C.. 

'...■.■..      .    ■' 
My  dear  Sir,.  . 

T  TNAVOIDABLE  ^bfence  will  prevent 
\J  nit  #<Hii  performing  it\^  grateftil  taflc, 
'tl^edi|eb]|r  the  State  Socitftv  df  the  Cin-' 
ebinitfjJIi  the  fourth  day  of  July  nextl 
^hot^JMBIcannot  perfonally  addrefs  them,  I 
tinBlloridate  by  fome  token  of  afiec- 
jfftbuance,  the  fenfe  I  entertain  of 
Sey  have  more  than  once  confer- 
by  their  fufFrages. 


pp  in  what  manner  to  accon^^ 

t^,  it  occurred  to  me,  that  an  at^ 

ifjferve  theaftions  of  Generic  ^ii|^ 

archives  of  our  State  SfJlSei^  j 
3^S|feible  to  its  members ;  as  t^ej 
I^V^th  great  f?:ti&fa^on  iindi 


M 


siSki. 


»**« 


«* 


%»-.<'  ■»'J.it<^0, . 


ii  -:> 


(      iv      ) 


V 


J 


tion,  and  would  pofTefs  the  advantage  of  pre- 
ienting  for  imitation  a  refpedtable  model  of 
public  and  private  ? irtues. 

General  Putnam  is  univerfally  acknow« 
Jedged  to  have  been  as  brave  and  as  honeil  a 
man  as  ever  America  produced ;  but  the  dif- 
tinguifhing  features  of  hi^  chara6ter>  and  the 
particular  tranfaftions  of  his  life'  are  but  im- 
perfcdlly  known.  He  feems  to  have  been 
formed  on  purpofe  for  the  ag^  in  which  \xt 
lived.  His  native  courage*  un^ken  inte- 
grity, and  eftabliihed  reputation  at^  ibldaer, 
were  necefTary  in  the  early  ftages  ^  our  op^ 
pofition  to  the  defigns  of  Great  ~ 
gave  unbounded  confidence  to  o^ 
their  firft  conHidts  in  the  field  ef 

The  inclofed  manufcript  ji 
dulgence  for  its  venial  errors*  af| 
effort  in  biography,  that  has 
this  continent.     The  attcpnpt*  1 
is  laudable,  whatever  may  bct^ 
point  of  execution. 

I  AM  happy  xp  find  that  the 
Cincinnati  is  nq^  generally 
vorable  mani|«f^    Mankij^j 

tions,  are':dtiiHlA.4o 
tives  on  whii 


\*  < 


( 


) 


felves,  wc  can  never  recall  to  mind  the  occa* 
fion,  without  feeling  the  mod  tender  emo- 
tions of  friendihip  and  fenfibility.  At  the 
dilTpiution  of  the  army>  when  we  retired  to 
feparate  walks  of  life,  from  the  toils  of  a  fuc- 
cefsful  war,  in  which  we  had  b;en  alTociated 
during  a  very  iniportant  part  of  our  lives  -,  the 
pleadng  idea,  and  the  fond  hope  of  meeting 
once  a. year,  wbicbgave  birth  to  eur  fraternal 
inftitutiofiy  were  neceffary  confolations  to 
footK.  the  pangs,  that  tore  bur  bofoms  ac 
the  melanchol y.hbur ofp2^n\ ng.  W hen  our 
'hands  coudidiy^  perhaps,  for  the  laft 'time  tifi 
our  tongdl^refufed  to  perform  their  oifiec  in 
Irewell,  Heaven  witneiri-d  and  ap- 
purity  of  our  intentions  in  the  ar- 
afie^ions*  May  wc  pcrfevere  in 
of  our  friendfhip,  and  the  exertion 
Icnce ; ,  regardlefs  of  the  cen- 
f.jelpjs  fufpicion,  which  charges  our 
~  "  nefs,  and  alcribes  our  ac- 
per  motives  5  wKK?  we  realize 
.<if  a  nobler  nature  in  ci»r  anniver- 
|ies,.  and  our  hearts  dilate  with  -ail 
[i^  0lgching,the  hand  of  beneficji:;nce 
t^tfoa^r  W^  unprotedlcd  orphan 


**,»„ 


:i«Kjs»..^ 


(      »i     ) 


tnoft  refpeftful  complinnents  to  the  memhen 
of  the  Society^  and  to  aiTure  them  on  my  part, 
that  whenfoever'it  (hall  be  in  my  power,  I 
'Ihall  efteem  it  the  felicity  of  my  life  to  attend 
their  anniverfaries. 

I  HAVE  the  honor  to  be,  ii/ith  fentiments  of 
the  higheft  confideration  and  efteem,  your 
moft  <K>edient  and  moft  humble  fervant^ 

D.HUMPHREYS. 


Mount  Vernon,  in  yirginil^,  %^ 
June  4th,  1788^ 


^    »j 


..■rf«.**i.*«»wgiPr^,v.r.:  ■-**. 


A    N 


E      S      S 


ON   TH£   I.IP£  Of 


General   PUTNAM. 


,:\     ^.-j,"  ,..:*   .f* 


milk 


a  € 


^Li 


Jfi^ 


\0  treii  of  recent  tranfaf^ionsani)  i)etftii|i 
ftU)  living,  is  always  a  delicate  and  fit*  I 
a  tt^Miklefs  office.     Yer,  while  the 
di^ilieiids  or  the  malignity  of  ene<» 
^i|0cidea|^^ith  ralhnefs  on  every  delinea- 
"chay^r,  or  recital  of  clrcumftances; 
*      ^   remains  that  diftant  nations 
is,  #ee  from  the  infltience  of 
Sdn>  will  jud^  with  impfr- 
iate  Wftli  juftice.    We  nave 
0ngu)ari^|>rolific  in  es|tm* 


A'*^^py»S' 


'^^M^ 


byrplracri, 
thefembions 


Pf-v-^.^ 


■'•Sfc^  - 


:il;:'' 


( 


) 


• 

tvcr  prudential  remfons  may  now  occur  td 
poftpone  the  portrait  of  our  own  times }  the 
difficulties  which  oppofe  themfclves  to  the 
execution^  inflead  or  being  diminilhed,  will 
cncreafe  with  the  lapfe  of  years.  '£very  day 
will  extinguilh  fome  life  that  was  dear  to 
fame,  and  obliterate  the  memorial  of  fome  ^ 
deed  which  would  have  conftituted  the  delight 
and  admiration  of  the  world,        "^' 

So  tranfient  and  indidinguiihable  art  the 
wt$Si^Ai^r^^^l^h  various  and  inexplicable: 
^gjfpnngs  of liAion,  t&  dbfcurc  and  perilhable 
Iherem^mbrance  of  human  aflMjrs,  ihatgun* 
^  Icfs  attempts,  are  fUide  to  (ketcN  the  ptftuctj 
^^  while  the  prcfcnt' generation  i|  livin0?it^ 
i  "iilceneft  will  be  forever  loft;  or  ^hr  mf% 
ed  by  ayague  recoUf  dtion ;  dl^tftS^^ 
haps,  by  the  wl)imGcal.coiQ|i|i|^.of  A 
imagination.. 


'»> 


,1 


It  will  doubtlefs  hen!a({<*lt :i| 
rcgreit  that  thofe>  ,who,.  hat||| 
tteen  confpic'uous  adbrs  ori^  " 

Eublic  lifef^  and, ,  who  in  Wf. 
n|>wfege  o^(^f  ff>i^^ 
thoie  ch4U'a6ter$.a^^|^^ 
i^hich  (durinj 

-  RevolutionX  u 
ktndyihouid 


:of 


■%^^^ 


'f"m^u 


[taH  ■ 


!■:  (;i'V»(  ■ 


(90 

aflume  theta(k«»a  taflc,  which  (ifexecuted 
with  fidelity)  muft,  from  the  dignity  of  ka 
fubjefty  become  grateful  to  the  patriots  of  all 
nations^  and  prgltable  in  example  to  the  re* 
nnoteft  poftenty.  Equally  fevere  will  be  the 
mortification  of  contemplating  the  reveries 
and  fidionsj  which  have  been  fubftituted  by 
hacknied  writers  in  the  place  of  hiftorical 
fa^ts.  Nor  fhould  we  fupprefs  our  indigna- 
tion againft  that  clafs  of  profeifional  autlK>rs» 
who»  placed  in  the  vale  of  penury  and  obfcu- 
rityi  atan  immenle  dii^ance  from  jchc  i 
ofa^ionand  all  oppontm^cs^r  1^41 
the  neceflaf  y  docunncnts,  with'  imufferkt 
frontery^  obtrude  their  fallacious  and  crude 
formances  on  a  credulous  public.  Did 
refult  of  their  lucubrations  terminate  on« 
relieving  their  own  diilreffes  or  gratify* 
heir  individual  vanity,  it  might  be  paff- 
ecFtn  filent  coi^sen^t, .  But  the  effedl  is  cx« 
teh^we^  permfsf^ft  and  pernidous.  The 
lye,*  Jboi^V!!pp  improbaW^  or  monftrous, 
(^kic^  Alia  OAG^  amimed  the  fcmblance  of 
Jt>eing  often  repeated  with  minute 
'»te  particularsj  is  ^t  length  fo  thoK 


!':.ki 


(        10        f 


roughly  eftablifhedy,  as  to  obtain  univerfat 
credit,  defy  contradiftion  and  fruftrate  every 
effort  of  refutation^  Such  is  the  mifchief, 
fgch  are  the  unhappy  confequences  on  tlie 
bewildered  mind,  that  the  reader  has  no  al^ 
tcrnative,but  to  become  the  dupe  of  his  credu- 
lity, or  diftruft  the  veracity  of  almoft  all  humaa 
teftimony.  After  having  long  been  the  fport 
of  fiction,  he  will  perhaps  probably  run  in- 
•tb  the  oppofite  extreme,  and  give  up  all  cortft- 
.dence  in  the  annals  of  ancient  as  well  as  mo* 
rn  timim  t  and  thus  the  eafy- believer  of  fine 

ait4  ttiarv^MSilflpries  will  ftnd,  at  lafl,,* 
iitlM^         ^1^8^  ^  fcepticijm  and 
;ind  in  mfidelity^       • 

_The  numerouis  errors  and  faKehoods^|j^?i^ 
latlve  to  the  birth  and  atchievemcnts  ^(?5^[a* 
jor  General  Putnamiwhich#ive(ata^ip^ 
period)  been  circulated  with  aliiduity  ^^on. 
both  fides  of  the  AtlantiCj^  ami  the  Uncertain- 
ty which  appeared. to  prevail  with  refpeft  to 
fas  real  %  eharader,.  firft  produced  the  tefg- 

I  Tfie  following  liaea  are  extra^ 
tid^4  « •  The  Profpe^  of  America  :** 
i^l#l|i§eniou»  Br.  Ladd. 

**  Hail  fmm  \  h^,^^»  vepe; 
-'^  -Itlfif^atsin  valn-w^^limftjMilt^^pPI 


%  ■ui 


'?'P"*k<»-jw 


^ifc'-' 


#' 


aw' 


c 


II 


) 


lotion  of  writing  this  cfTay  on  hi^life  and  in- 
duced the  editor  to,  obtain  *  materials  from 
that  hero  himfelf.  If  communications  of 
iuch  authenticity^  if  perfonal  intimacy  as  an 
aid-^e-camp  to  that  Genera],  or  if  fubfe- 
quent  military  employments,  which  afforded 
ftccefs  to  fources  '\  of  intelligence  nK  open  to 

"  When  fourfcore  vears  had  blanch'd  thy  laurelPd  head, 
*'  Strong  in  thine  age,  the  Hame  of  war  was  fpreao." 
On  which  Dr.  Ladd  made  this  note  : 
"  The  brave  Putnam  fcems  to  have  beenJ^y^ 
<>  fctlied  aaiidil  the  £]are  oygMbj,  vi^^ 
^'  Hiii  early  and  gallaht  fervleii  j^I^k  Jai»  tiian 
•*  erlafttng  remembrance.^ 

Oti^  bards  have  alfo  averted  the  glory  of  this  vener- 
V4^'ir«i^a^    In  the  firll  cbndfe  review  of  the  princi- 
"**^*  **^ri^ao  herpes  who  fi|nalized  themfelves  in  the 
^  the  (kme  charader  is  thus  reprefented  i^.'-- 
ijBilodd  ftern  Patnaaijfeam'd  with  many  a  fcar« 
^fetiraa  honors  jof  an  earlier  war." 

IP  Vifion  of  Columbus,  Book  y. 
-  ftM5##i^  e«gernefs  an  opportunity  of 
W»  dl^^tioiis  to  Dr.  Albigence  Wal- 
^  at  to  commit  to  writing  many 
luniCitedtDhim  by  General  Putnam  in 
,  jrdir.  s 

.    )e  of  proofs  might  be  progduced  to  de- 
ll HiSUtary  fads  cannot  always  be  accura|e6 
It  l^ihe  commander  ill 
rs.     The  i^arquis  &^ 
;«<|pNB  l^nttine  infbri 
iil|lHi^<^iKrar  which' 
I pitirthui  thatV 


acknowl 
do,  who 
anecdof 
the 


M 


noi 
ly^ 

^t 

opportal 

thdreps 

mentidn^ 

glvee  an ' 

ordered 


* 


'W^^ 


bfiBi..>r-n  I  wJfr'Jlliihftiail  -'tettVi^ 


( 


12 


) 


;, 


,  * 


Others,  give  the  writer  any  advantages ;  the 
unbiafftd  mind  wiH  decide  how  far  they  ex- 
culpate him  from  the  i^nputations  of  that  of- 
ficioufnefs,  ignorance  and  prefumption^  which 

of  1780.  The  Marquis^  who  wai  prefenC  when  the  de- 
tachment m|jrche4»  andtto  whom  General  Heath  (hewed 
the  orders  that  were  given  to  General  Stark*  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  expedition,  obferves  that  he  had 
never  (ken,  in  .manafcript  or  print,  more  pertinent  in- 
ilraftbnt.  Now  the  fad  is,  that  this  detachment,  under 
the  prete^Qf  a  forage,  was  intended  by  theComiiand- 

'li^iif^^i^P^  ^^'^EililJ^^^  ^^^  "^^  ^"™^  in  an  at- 

igftaplg^U^^JpO^^^      on  York-Ifland;   aii4| 
,  l|li|^iicriaHeftdiikbif«l^was  then  ienorant  of  the  r«T  ^ 

2^fign.    The  Con^n^er  in  Chief  fpent  $,  whple 

Cam^gn  in  ripening  thiff  project.    Boats,  moamtfed  ^90: 

traveling  carriages^  were  keptconftantly  witht)^''^' 

The  marquis  de  la  Fayette,  at  the  head  pf  th«  "* 

fautrji^  was  to  have  made  the  attack  in  #«  ' 

Waiiingtofi.    The  period  ^fen  for  thli 

the  very  time*  when  thepnajr  were  tdh 

camp  and  march  into  win«Br-qfi||ert :  i» 

nander  in  Chief,  movinj  In  t)#mi| 

wottldrliave  been  on  thebauksl^Mt 

whole  ibitcp  tt>  have  fiiipportecltli^ft^a^ 

manner  in  which  tlie  ;Co-oper|itwil  «ii 

troops  fent  by  GenendMeatu,  on  the  pi 

was  to  have  been  condn^^,  wiU  foe  ,ism 

SMoinng  leoret  inftriilliont. 

««  To9rigidier  CeQeratSTJtaii;' 

««  Sta,  J^ 

««  Colonel  f!lmphreyf«  w^^mf.  f^^j^j^^camp*  is 
*'  <^rged  by  me  with  oriirs  df  4  p^v^  %d  oaruca- 
««  {^nature,  which  he  is  to  dli«er^|oii»  and  which 


^S*!*^ 


with  ms 
pautbus 
fthe 

the 


(      '3     .) 


■*ik 


in  others  have  been  reprehended  with  feveti- 
tv.  He  only  wifh<^  that  a  premature  and 
unfavorable  conllruftion  may  not  be  formed 
of  his  motive  or  objeft.     Should  this  cfTaf 

you  are  to  obey.    He  will  inform  you  of  the  neceifity 
of  this  mode  of  communication. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  &c. 

«'  Geo.  Wafliington." 
*'  To, Lieut,  Col.  David Humpbrejs,  A,  D.  Camp, 

"Sir, 
*'  You  are  immediately  to  proceed  to  Weil-Point  and 
coniqftunicate  the  bufinefs  comniitted  to  you,  in  anjl" 
Jcfici,  to  Major  General  Heath,  and  to  no  p|her  per* 
foa  whatfoever ;  from  thence  yoa.will  impair  %vlliA 
detachment  at  the  White  Plaini,  on  Friday  nexts  ti|»> 
king  meaftires  to  prevent  their  leaving  that  place,  bi^ 
fot^e  youget  to  them.     And  in  theconrfe  of  the  fy4^. 
«<B^i|ig  night  you  may  inform  the  commanding  offi. 
qf  the  enterprize  in  contemplation againft  the  en*' 
ftt  on  York  Ifland. 

troops  are  cotvftantly  to  lie  on  their  arms,  no 

j^ice  Ihottld  be  giyen  ;    but  they  may  be 

ion  precisely  at  ^'o'd^itk,  and  commence 

|^i|{#marchtaKing^it  Itridge,  until  they 

'     ^  be  informed  of  the  concerted  fignals 

)hen  the  march  muft  be  preiTed  with 

the  gi^l^  fipidity .     Parties  of  hoi'fe  (hould  be  fenc 

forwftrd-lpl^^tlookeatfbr  thefiggalsi 

*f  ^^l^oogl  the  main  body  ought  to  be  kept  com- 

pa^;  pa  trollies  of  horfe  and  light  parties  niight  be  fent 

toAV^rdsEaft  and  Weft  Cheder :  and  upon  the  %naU 

>beingd«rcovcred,  Sheldon's  regiment  and -the  Con- 

nsr^ticiit  §tate.boops  (which  may  alfo  be  put  in  mo- 

tiaa  as  ibbH^a|  \he  tjt^eri  can  be  commumcated'after 

4  iTclotlt)  ihoi^lWi^ttlbed  forward  |o  intercept  any 


4* 
tt 

«* 

a- 

«« 

w 
*t 


'f- 


c 


i   14   ) 


li;v«e  any  influence  in  corre^ing  miftakea^  or 

'•^efcuing  from  oblivion  thic  actions  of  that 

diftinguifhed  Veteran  s   -mould  it  create  an 

emulation  to  copy  his  domeftic,  nianly  and 


^t 


■«« 


*t 


'X-a, 


*'•  of  the  enemy,  wlio  may  attempt  to  gain  Frog'«Neck». 
-'*  and  to  cut  o^  theJElefngee-corps  at  MorrilTania.  A 
«  few  men,  with  fome  aadrefs,  may  fpread  fuch  an  a- 
**  larrn  as  to  prevent  an  attempt  of  the  enemy-  to  re- 
treat to  Frog's  Neck,  from  an  appreheniion  of  fur- 

rounding  parties.; 

"  YoH  will  commankate  tbefe  in(lr«\£lion«  to  the  com* 
'*  manding  officer  of  tl^e  detachment,  who,  upon  hit 
"  ^proa^chtp King's  Bridge,  will  receive  orders  froqime 

■  ■■  ■  '^"""''■iloffible.:^-'.  -^  .  ■  ■  'iv 

I  the  iignalf  not  be  difcovered,  the  tfml' 

l^lialtatleaftfixtwlesfromthebridg^^       .--^ 

^eft  intelligence  c&ii  be  obtained. 

^**  Tke  abfwite  nete^ty  of  the  moft  perG^ 
^^  the  Q<^ca&m'^of  communicating  my  oriM^ 
>**  this  duuinel*" 

Givejn  atHead-Qjiaf^ri 

if^ver  urat  a  pto'b«t|#^ji|ai»g^ 
«ircnmfta«c«i: ' proimile  mo^e  iiiX^:  ii'^ 
^hc  BritiflHMref  e»not  only  un4lari^^|lpi|||||pii  trtiope. 
Vere  likewiie^  entirely  mifgiiideclsn^l^il^^ 
Tbe  accidental  intervention  of  fome  iriplipy^ij^ieEAt 
this  time  t^  attempt :  which  was  mor^t^  on^f^efum^' 
c4  afterwa^d».  >fotwitfaftand]ng  this  jlivorite  ;pro>e&  # 
vf&s  not  ttttimUtel]^  effed^d*  it  was  evidently  not  loi  bold 
iti  conception  or  feafible  in  a6Comptift|qjpnt,  than  that 
attempted  a>  faiccefsfully  if  Treato^i  %  ^an  tKat» 
^"^-^  wu  brojightto  fogtorioiif  It^ in  the  focccft. 


er  did. 


^ 


<  *5  y 

heroic  virtues 5  or  Ojould  it  prompt  "feme 
more  (kilful  hand.to^pOurtray>  th*e  i1ki(lrioii9 

groupe  of  Patriots,.  Sage&  and  Heroes,  who 
ave  guided  our  coun(els>.fought  o<ur  battles 
and  adorned  the  memorable  Epocha  of  Inde- 
pendence, it  will  be  an  ample  compenfatl^ 
for  the  trouble  and  excite  a  confolatory  reflec- 
tion through' eveiy  viciflitude  of  life. 

ISRAEL  PUTNAM^who  through  a  regu- 
lar gradation  of  promotion  became  the  itrnior 
Major  General  in  the  army  of  the  Unit- 
ed Slli^i  and  next  in  rank  to  General  Wafh- 
ing^ohy  was  born  at  Salem  in  the  Proyif^cCy 
li^  State,  of  M£^lachu(etrs,  oti  ^e  7t}i^Ni|^ 
Sf  l"li¥«^  1718.  His  father,  Capt.  Jofep 
^^PM^lip  was  the  fon  x>f  Mr.  John  Futnaiii, 
wbd  ividi  two  brothers  came  from  ttie  ibuth 


It  it|^0  Mai^ideCkiftdlux,  wfrnfeprarfefibn* 
alfcttbvi|m^iind  fbttttaiii-head  ictelligience  havt  «n4- 
bled  liiifliriiefcribe  lev^ral  aAioiis  better  than  they  are 
cin^vhere  diefcribed*  f(>eakt  in  this  inftance  of  an  ulterior 
^f£k :  and  lays  thatfecrets  were  preferved  moreinvio- 
&Dly  in  the  American  than  in  the  fre^ch  army,  ffii 
wordtare ; 

^  <*  P'eftqoele  (ecret  eft  garde  tres  >x«a!eae[ll(^a 
V  I'liiiee  Amencaiot  ;  peu  de  perionm  09t 
«*  |irt  a  la  coDlaBC^di}  Chef,  et  ca  ^tii^m^  j 

fitle  motnt^danii'lctarniees  Prancmip|irl^  m>. 
^  m^  ti  de  ce  ^tto  f 'o^^il^ttf 


'-^» 


.*■■ 


'  (      16      ) 

efEngland  and  were  among  the  firft  fettlers 
«f  Salem* 

Whim  wc  thus  behold  a  per fon,  from  the 
humble  walks  of  life>  darting  unnoticed  in 
the  career  of  fame^  andj  by  an  undeviacing 
progrefsthrough  alife  ofhonor}  arriving  at 
the  nighc;ft  dignity  in  the  (late ;  curiofuy  is 
flrongly  excited,  and  philofophy  loves  to  trace 
'  the  path  of  glory  from  the  cradle  of  obfcurity  . 
to  the  fummit  of  elevation. 

AjtTiiouoH  our  anceilorsy  t^e  firft  iettlers 
of  t^iloid,  amidft  the  extreme  preStire  or  . 

opoiverty  and  danger,  early  inftitut€d^iy^er<(^  > 

^fei'  the  education  of  youths,  d^Bgned' W  thi 
ie»*ned  dN>fefl[ions ;  yet  it  was  thm^g||  lu(- 
licient  to  inftruft  thofe  deftined  to  tlpdtr  on 
the  earth,  in  reading,  writing  and  fuch  rudi-^ 

^in^nts  of  i^ithmetic,  as  mi^ht  bert|^i(ite  for 
keeping  the  accounts  of  th^  littl^ranfac- 
tions  with  each  other.  Few  farmet-'s  ions  had 
more  advantages,  none  lefs.  In  this  flate  of 
mediocrity  it  was  the  lot  of  young  Puti^itii  to 
be  placed,  '  His  early  inftrudlion  W4a  vn^t 
conllderable,  and  the  aftive  fcenes  of  1^  lit  * 
which  he  was  afterwards  engaged^  pr#^t<i| 
the  opportunity  of  great  literary  imotlWP^^ 

^mf  nt.     His  numerous  original  letters^  ipoug^< 
deficient  in  fcholaj^catcuracy,  always  ^i^ta;^ 


m 


rK 


■  •r^f-'Mmim'- 


(      »7     ) 

the  goodne(s  of  his  hearr^  and  frequently  the 
ftrength  of  his  native  genius.  He  had  a  cer- 
tain laconic  mode  of  exprefTion,  and  an  unaf- 
fected epigrammatic  turn,  which  charaflerif* 
ed  moft  0?  his  wntings.< 

.  Tq  compeniaite  partiallyr  for  the  deficiency 
ofedu^i^ion  (though  nothing  can  remove  or 
^countedbl^anipe  the  incpnveniences  exjperienc- 
f4  ff^  Icifl  pMblic  life),:  he  derived  from  ki^ 
par^^i.  the  fd^r^  of  innumerable  ad  van  tag* 
«s  in  the  ftaminaof  a  vi^orou3  conftitution*- 
Ji^l^i  liberal  in  NiloWin^  on  him  b0^y 
*^grtt.hafdiiiefr^d  adivity^  wa^Jy  y|!B| 
""       ||#*Tfi*^WJioM*  in  mertai  ts^4^msfis0i^' 
tmzvpthp^  qu4iti^»  of  1^  wa^^ 
m  J#  c)|fyelopc<l  in  tb«^occft  ^ 
|r  iJo^bi?  improper,  Jnl|iip]ace^  10^ 
'^^m^j^  fhe  circumttiincesi^^^^^ 
were  oipiiaj^fy  4}jl(9g¥^ 


rmAp8>:«^t^rpri2ar,  adivity  and  perff- 

were;  the  &ft  charafterfft>cs  ^  hja 

Thei^isa  kind  of  mechanical  ^ouT'- 

qfft^^^ng  of  pride,v,jl0it  or  difci- 

^,tb^ti£ii^||^lh  a  coward  not  only  to 

^^e^Gorm  hisih^^^^a  to  venture  on  a% 


T^V 


♦-WITa 


jr' 


4* 


(       *8       ) 


*At. 


ferent  fpecies.  His  undaunted  feelings  de- 
pended, lefs  than  the  feelings  of  moft  ochers, 
on  external  objedbs,  adventitious  aids>  or  the 
influence  of  example.  He  Itood  alone,,  and 
colle£ted  within  himfelf,  always  poflefied  in- 
trepidity equal  to  the  occafion.  His  brave-* 
ry,  that  appears  to  have  been  conftitutional, 
never  for  a  moment  deferted  him  in  the  try- 
ing fituations,  to  which  his  life  was  often  ex- 
pofed.  It  was  a  fpecies  of  cool,  deliberate 
fortitude,  not  afFedted  by  the  paroxifm  of 
enthuiiafm,  or  the  phrenzy  of  defperation. 
It  was  ever  attended  with  a  ferenity  of  foul, 
if  cl^rncis  of  conception,  a  degree  o|(clf-po(* 
pioiif  Jt(^  4  fuperioHty  to  i^l  the  viciffiil^ 
lir  jfoirtunc^  entirely  dHtinft  from  aiif 
"  at  can  Ke  i>rodui^ed  by  thefei^^^ 

d  fluct^  ^"^its,  which,  nli^tJiimlHWeit- 
, ,  pree^itate  #en  to  a#tMi|  #1 
ed  by  ihtoiiicatkm  or  fdme  orkef  tFaikfient  ex- 
hilaration. The  heroic  charan^er,  thus  found- 
ed on  conftitutioh  and  animal  ^irits,  checiih- 
cd  by  education  and  ideas- of  |)effoii^i£||ee- 
dom,  cor^rmed  by  tcmperaneeapd ' 
exercifc,  waa  completed  by  thetlidfeJ 
ibn^e  love  ^f  his  country  and  an  in 
feiiSPif  diiry.  Such  were*  the  quali 
principles;,  that  enabled  hini  to  rricet  li 
tailed  rh^  tTSaf  V  ^f  ar'v«^i  Hw,  and  to  p^ 

t  •-♦<)•"»-»      'il'    •'     H    ,.,,,,»»        Vt"    4»:         ,»«••«••  .»»•  /»     »  •  *"'      '  ff        '^'i\n,'- 


'^  ■      n^-^.o' 


'^« 


m 


(    »»   ) 


His  difpofTtion  was  as  frank  and  gencN 
ous>  jft^  his  mind  was  fearlefs  and .  independ- 
enc.  He  difguifed  nothings  indeol  he 
feemed  incapable  of  difguifc.  Perhaps^  in 
the  incercburie  he  was  ultimately  obliged  to 
hfve  with  an  artful  world,  his  Gncerit]r>  on 
fomeoccafions,  outwent  t^isdifcretion.  Al- 
though he  had  too  much  fuayitv  in  his  na- 
fure  to  coniiptmnc^  #  ;<^^  ne  had  too 
much  f«9ifibtliiiF  not  to  le^  too  much 

lK>nor  ni^  1^  r^fitpi  ititetj^d  iijfolr.  v  The 
firft  lifoe  he  wenjt  mBofl^V  w^  inliiRed 
for  hiirrufliicity  by  %  b(^  cltwic^  ^fm  iod 
^^ifif  b«»riiig  the  iSr^ 

wofii^^  he  chaUaM 

llis  9|iixiiaQneC 
dii^i&i  of  a  croMimr 

torlMIH£(i|%l^pt  ing  'hii^lfn&^ioii|  mu  "V§ 

athletic  4iverfioiii^^^i,ro<l^        maf. 
c^)ii)f^  li§^  :whei^^tr^  t^  aS^ 

ifoaii^ondleif^^^^ 

tl^bar^  runntngih         -  *  - 

>rite  an^iaeiiii 
ll^cifts^«:(ifli^-S 

.  was>,  i^iig^^i^:^ 
jditirai^ 
every  rlng;^ 


Ar  iuch 
Ivjduriflg  the 


promife  of* 
h^li^fjil^aim^&om 


www 


(      fio      ) 


BiroRB  the  refinements  of  luxury  and  the 
confequent  incrrafe  of  expences  had  render- 
ed the  maintenance  of  a  family  inconvenient 
or  burdenfome  in  America,  the  fexes  entered 
into  matrimony  at  an  eatly  age.'  Compe* 
tence^  attainable  tjry  aiU  was  the  lioiit  of  pur- 
fuit.  After  the  hardihips  of  making  a  new 
Settlement  were  Qirercome  and  the  evils  of 
pepury  removed,  the  inh^tants  ebjoyed,  in 
Ihe  lot  of  ec|ua|ity»  jiinQC^iHse  and  fecuritjr, 
&|nea  eqaally  #HghtfiH  i^lii|h(Me,  pi^illi^ 
W  m.  g^f  t^g  y^  poctsiu  ^ 

dieif  jnv^iie  pamral  lifij  orlaifaA^fus  g^l^ 

i^Jibk.    Jtei^ 
inc^^fiiMf^  J|iiiR(M  W 

.ijprjiic^pKteya^ 

• ._  ^  ■■-.•'■ ,''*',ir.^'.,"'  '      ill 


ff'-  ■■\^i  ii?! 


mercepfl 


tm 


Jjcfbre  h^  Waintrd  the  tftntj 

;,  :-:|iljildtfn». ft?& .,  of  :iRrfcoirt\irtr;|H 


'^'^'i.^' 


'j^y' 


•tHn 


'f 


.■  :<_^  iter.  i-Si^^.'iux;\^'^iM^  J\'~ 


•f  #       F 


( 


31 


) 


ner's  Idand,  by  whom  he  had  no  iiTue. 
died  in  1777. 


She 


•  In  the  year  1739  ^^  removed  from  Salem 
to  Ponnfrety  an  inland  fertile  town  in  .Con« 
ne£bicut»  forty  miles  eail  of  Hartford  :  having 
here'purchafed  a  confiderable  tra^t  of  land> 
he  applied  himfelf  fuccefsfully  to  agriculture. 

The  firft  ycars^  on  a  new  farm,  are  not, 
however,  exeori^;  from  difafters  and  difap- 

S^inttneii^i  ii^hteh  cw^         be  remedied  bf 
iibbdrnahii  patient  induft^y.     Our  tarit^^  ^ 
MMjc^^  in  buildirij^ashmiie  ^^^^^ 

llurh,  feUlfig  wbodsji  making  mce%i\Sifi^iM^r,§ 
^in,  panting  or^liards  and  taliM^  ei 
his  ftock,  had  to  eilcpuiitcr,  in  tMB|^  the 
lamiiics  otcafionied  by  drcMiJ^li^^ 
blad:  in  harved,  lofs  oricattle  ill  winter^  aA§^ 
the  defol^cion  of  his  fh^p^fold  h^  wohres. 
.In  one  night  he  had  fey^nty  fine  fheiep^^aiid 
goai^s  J^lied,  befides  matiy  lambs  anaf]0ds 
Wffiiiiid.    This  havQp  was  commi|teciM« 
jurhith,  with  her  annual  whelpsjiSNji 
"  years  infeftcd  the  vicing,    r^^fflb 
^re  commonly  dcftfoyed  by  tKivfi- 
of  ?|ic  hunters,  IlUt  the  old  oijc  waa 


iCto^s  to  come  wiihi 
iipon  being  clofely  ptti 
ily  %  tQ  the  wcilern 


^pfgmr 


>' 


tl 


) 


'^i'^' 


'tvafn  the  next  winter  with,  another.  Utter  of 
whelps*. 

'       '  -^ 

This  W6I4  fttlength^ixcaniefiiGhan  in--^ 
imrable  nuifance,  that  Mr.  Ptitaam  entered 
into  a  combination  with  fiv:eof  his  iieighbon 
to  h\tnt  akemacely  untiL  they  could  deftro;^, 
her.    Twoj  bf  4roiattooKW«rc  oo^be  cohftaai* ' 
)y  in  purfill*.     It  vraa  knbwn^that^  haV;-^ 
idg  loft  the  toes  frite  mjtfypuby  im  fiee^ 
tmf,  iheoiade  cme  «acji  ^igrtvjr  tliim^J|j^ 

flll^light  fiiowi.  the  mtitt.  of  tbil' , 
bliwml^  *  Haviftf'feMfwwd  ikii 

milllir  i>i^  and  found  ihe  bad 

961:  ccNii^  towai^ds  Pomfret,  they 
leumedi  ftt^d%rten  o'dodi^ithe ' 
_^  th«  b^^-'^^win*^*  had  driven 
jM!rla|9|*'4^^  miles  diftant  from 

tliehip^if  Mr*  Ifutnam;  ^j:j^  people  foon 
ic^lf^^  withdqgjW^  M" 

^fl^itq  attack  the  cdninrjon  chemyy^  Wttfc 
«yi  ft^iM'atOs  kv'e^l   unfucctrsf 
liere  inadeto  force  iv»  from  the  jf 
boiinds^  icaiTt^  back  badly  woiiitde 


wi-m¥^^ 


fafcd  to  retorii^^The  fa^oke  of 
had  naeS^^^or  did  the  l«0ie$ 
briiiiftoiie>  with  which  the  <ayei3(i 
coi^^ii)^lieii^to  Gjuit  the  retir^^ife|]p 
ii4th;^b&uicleiiuttempt4w^^  '*' 


»  '■■'  K  ■■•■/*.■, 


i-  ,'■ 


'.■ft? . 


'*<si 


i      *3      ) 

• 

the  dme  to  ten  o'clock  at  night)  Mr.  Put- 
nam tried  oace  more  to  make  his  dogenCer». 
but  tn  vain ;  he  propofed  to  his  negro  ipan  to 
fiO  down  tnto  tue  cavern  and  flioot  the  Wdlfji 
tne  negro  declined  the  hazardous  fcnrkC 
Then  it  wa'k  that  their  maftier>  angry  at  the 
difl^^intment»  and  declaring  that  he  was  a- 
ilHunned  to  ht^  a  eo^irj^  in  mi  |mniiy>  re« 
folved  himfelfto  deftlflrjr  the  ierocioitt  bea% 
licftllit  (hoiildlfi^^         ibmeiinkDowo 

^a^^^i^^m  wild  anliah  0t  if  ^ 

hbirtrMhe  only 
Sriatiilih  he^llbld^  5rbeaini  tfefi 
aBPbrd  light  in  thi&  dle^^iMl  darkfi 


y^^-^tiik' 


prepared  for  his  d^fcent.  fiaving^a^^mg^ 
lyy  divefted  himfelf  of  his  coat  alifd  Wai^coar^ 
and  having  a  Iqiij^  rope /aliened  rotilKl  hia 
legs,  by  yiiiikh^  lli^rl^  back^  at  a.- 

cbilcerc<si^|i^|ial^  ht  entered  head  fbremdf^ 
with^^lli^iiasing  tbrch  in  his  hand.    ^ 


iirm)^rtureofth(HKn/^on  the  eaftfi^ 
l^y  high  ledge  vtftf  rocks,   il^^bpt^tio 
are }  from  thenee  it  deTcendlb 
feet,  then  ruiijirug  -bori^ 
^^rtme^  it  afcendrj^iiiltlp^ 
its  tenninatidml^^aMH 


«:^. 


:-^im 


..'♦ 


W'f^ 


<^  ' 


(    .24       ) 

this  fubterraneous  cavity  arc  compofcd  of 
[pooth  and  folid  rocks,  which  fcem  to  have 
been  divided  from  each  other  by  fome  form- 
er earthquake.  The  top  and  bottoai  are  al- 
fo  of  ftone,  and  the  entrance,,  in  wiptcl*,  being 
covered  with  ice,  is  exceedingly  ilippery.  It 
is  in  no  place  high  enough  for  a  man  to  ralfe 
himfelf upright:  nor  in  any  part  more  than 
three  feet  in  width. 

^AVI^'G  groped  his  paflage  to  the  horizon- 
tal part  of  the  den,  the  moft  tcrHfying  dark- 
ilefs  appeared  in  front  of  the  dim  circle  ^f^ 
Forded  by  his  torch,  h  wa«  fileat  a* 
^0^  of  death.  None  but  monftcrii:^;. 
'the  defert  had  ever  before  explored  this  (iM- 
taf]ip|aniic^n  of  horror.  He,  cautioufly  pro- 
ceedmg  onward,  came  to  the  afcentj  which 
he  (lowly  mounted  on  his  hands  and  knees 
until  he  drfcovered  the  glaring  eye-balls  of 
the  wolf,  who  was  fitting  at  the  extremity  of 
the  i^avern.  Started  at  the  fight  of  fire,  (he 
gnafhed^hcr  teeth  and  gave  a  ftiUen  ^rowl. 
As  foon  as  he  had  made  the  neceffary  difcov- 
cry,  he  kicked  the  rope  as  a  fignal  tor  pull- 
ing him  out.  The  people,  at  the  moqth  of 
the  ^n,  who  had  Hftened  with  painful  anxii 
ety,  hearing  the  growling  of  the  wolf  and 
fuppofing  their  friend  to  be  in  the  moft  ini- 
mi nent  danger,  diew  him  forth  wlth'^fuch  Cc- 


(      ^5      ) 

Icri^  that  his  fhirt  was  ftripped  over  his  head 
arid  his  (kin  fcvcrely  lacerated.  After  \j0 
had  a'djudcd  his  cloaths  and  loaded  his  gctii 
^h  nine  buck- (hot,  holding  a  torch  io  oiie 
hand  and  the  mufquet  in  the  other>  he  de- 
fcendcd  a  fecond  time.  When  he  drew  near- 
er than  before,  the  Wolf,  aiTuming  a  ftjll 
more  fierce  and  terrible  appearance,  howling, 
rolling  her  eyes,  fnapping  her  teeth,  silid 
droppmghef  head  between  her  legs,  wa$  cvi- 
dehtfy  in  jhe  attitude  and  on  the  point  of 
fpringijng  at  him:  At'the  ciHtical  inflant  he 
'  Wfd  an4  fired  at  her'  head.  Stur|^ 
J^fli^kand  (iim)c^dwithiheli«J% 
if)(^$^y  found  himfelf  drawt'outdli 
cave.  But  having  refreMd  hiiiifelf  and 
permitted  the  fmoke  to  difllpiite)  h<f  went 
down  the  third  time.  <^nce  more  he  came 
within  fight  of  the  Wolf,  who  appearing  ve- 
ry palHve,  he  applied  the  torch  to  her  nofe; 
and  perceiving  her  dead,  he  took  hold  of  her 
ears,  ipd  then  kicking  the  rope  (ftill  tied 
round!  his  legs)  the  people  above^  with  no 
fmill  exiikation,  dragged  them  both  out  to v 
gether.  ^V 


m. 


I 


J 


HAVE  offered    thefe  fafls   In     greater 

I,  bccaufc  they  contain  a  diljpl^y-^crf'tija- 

n&tr  i  and  becaufe  they  have  been  e'lI'MBp. 


■  ^  '^  >*; 


.^sr^ 


<** 


(      «6      ) 

opfiy  related  in  feveral  European  publications, 

ft  very  much  mutilated  in  the  hiftory  of 
nnedicuty  a  work  as  replete  with  falfehood 
a^efticute  of  genius,  lately  printed  in  IxMir 
dbn.  . 


[ 


!■ 


-1-)      ■  ■  ■   ', 

JProsperityj  dt  lepgth,  began  to  attend 
the  agiricultural,aSairs  of  Mr.  Putnam.     He 
liMl  acknowledged  tb  bea  (kilful    and  inde- 
igable  manager.     His  iie}^^  Were  nnoftly 
Dfed  with  ftone  i«raijsy^^  "^^ 
illy  lucccededr  becaiifiS  th#iind^i^^ 
ed  and  mar^jLiredk    Hissp^uif  s  lu^d  in^ 
m£^  lusitmant.    fiiaf  cmiilfe^ 
ed  ahd'in  goCK}^<*rdei^!^ 
it^tccs  prolific;^    W^ 
|iiage  w  W^  pifeduce  foreign  S- 

Within.  doors  he 


fo^hdlllliG^p^nfation  of  his  labors  in  thi 
plenty  4|f  excellent  provifiiinsy  as  ^IL  as  in 
ttaf  haj^inels  of  domcftic  focicty.     - 

i?^oii?  particular  delcription  ofliiltran- 
fuiof^  frfim  narrow  to    eafy  circtinbftances 
t  b^  |iven ;   but  the  mind,  that  fliall 
acquired  an  idea  of  the  habits  of  lab(»v 
fimplicityi  to  which  the  induftrious  coio- 
^;fts^1irere  tccuftomed,  will  readily  fupply  the 
omifllioh.    The  effc^  of  this  gradual  acqui- 
fition  of  property,  gcnci"ally  favorable  to  in- 


jtitii 


•«. . 


.^* 


(        27        ) 

dividual  virtue  and  public  felicicy,  (houfd 
not  however  be  paflcd  over  in  (ilence.  4  JBT 
there  is  fomethjng  fafcinating  in  the  x^ftt^ 
of  a^country  life>  from  the  conremplftton  -  of 
Biaojtiful  landfcapes;  there  is  likewife  felne- 
thing  elevating  to  the  fou]>  in  the  cofitciouf- 
nefs  of  being  loird  of  the  foil  and  haying  the 
power  of  creating  tbe^m.^^^^^^T^  caft 

icarcely  be  guilty  of  a  (prdidT  adioiij^Qr  even 
deiceindirp^iiOfirneroosi^^^  wJiOj  re- 

iaitn 


h^0cafi»to]p||^  ) 

iVtuti  the  fai-me^  ii^co  a  &ee^ 


. Jfi]^  ly  yilpiriiig  |^,_ 

,^.~ -  l^nfc  is  ^  fireenian»  flattmag  i^^ 

natural  propenfity  for  peHbnal  indt^iendlftS^ 
^nd  nouri§xing  ah  unlinQited  iQim^ll^  «M 
philanthropy  in  his  fpcial  charadjl^ 

But  the  time  had  now  arrived,  w^eb  ivfi' 
to  turn  the  inftrumenta  of  hufbamfaji Jife 
weappMof  hoftility,  and  to  exchange^^^'^ 
tng  of  wolves>  t^ho  had  ravaged  ihejp'e^-' 
folds,  forthc  purfuit  after  Sav^es  n^had 
iieS)lated  the  frontiers.  Mr.  '^titnarh  wiia 
ibout  37  years  oW^  when  the  War  bctw^; 
SiidanGland  France,  which  preceded  the  laft^ 
)>r^  oiit  in  America.  His  reputat]||Bpuft 
haviiLbccn^  favorably  kAOwii/to  tl^l^S^HS^ 


■^^' 


■:4,' 


"It 


:A%'^, 


.  (  »«  ) 

inent)  fince  among  the  firtt  troops  that  were 
Icyicd  by  Conncdbicut,  in  1755,  he  was  ap-- 
Jbdifilid  io  the  command  of  a  company  in 
Lyiillii's  regiment  of  Provincials.  I  have 
tnf aponed  hisiage  at  this  period  expi efsly  to 
obviate  a  prc#akBt  opinion,  that  he  was  far 
advanced  in  life  when  he  commenced  ^is  mi- 
litary fcrvice. 

As  he  was  cxtretriely  populari  ke*  found 
1^6  difficulty  in  iiiUfting  nis  component  of 
;1tecruits  frpm  the  n»iftliaf#,  aiterprrxmg  in«J 
f^^p^^able  young  men  of  his  neighj^h     ' 
'\  l^lic  regiment  joined  thte  are&y^  ^  A^  ' 
*  "^  "    [e  campaign,  not  far  ,^1" 

fomtp  Soon  after  hj^ 
«.  «.JP^  became  Intimately  connefted 
p^^^ys  pax#ifnCaptain,  afterwards.  Ma- 
..jorRo|^$  with  whom  he  was  frequently 
afro^gipl&  traverfing  the  wildernefs,  recon- 
n^flni^n|*my's  lines,  gaining  intell i- 
g«|HiF  #»ng  ftraggling  prifoners  J  as 
wp^pill  bealing  up  the  quarters  sind  fur- 
iP^g  the  advanced  pickets  of  their  army, 
r!or  ^he(c  operations  a  cdrpft  of  rartgers,  was 
formed  frondthe  irregulars.  The  firft  time 
Rogers  ahd^  Putnam  were  detached  with  a 
party  of  ti^e  l^ght  troops  it  was  thft  fortune 
ofthejittcj^^jpifcrve,  with  his  qwn^j^d, 
the  Hfe  of  the  former,  and  to  cemei^t  their 


/'^tfss 


"^' 


K\,  SI   /  -   'v'    , 


(      ^9'      ) 


:.-^m 


friend  (hip  with  the  blood  of  one  of  their  tife- 
mies.     The  objcd  of  this  expedition  was  ib, 
obtain  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  pti^ltioti 
ahd  ftate-of  the  works  a^Cro'wnPoinr^  ttwas 
impra6ticableto  approach  with  their  pant  jrliear 
tiioug^h  for  th«  purpofe,   without  being  dif- 
covered.     Alon^j  the  undertaking  was  lufSb- 
cicntly  hazardour,  on  account  of  the  l^an«s 
of  hoftile  Ihdians^  who^iifeftcd  the  woods. 
Qor  tw#kparti%aA|ik  hijwcver,  left  al i  thcir^tnea 
tkt  a  C€Ry<^ear  ailt;lttcey^hftri(ft  orders  to 
<^ntmuifr;<sdii^lii;dl  atitil  their  reuirn .    Ha^- 
log  thUa^iujtioufty^taikeiri  their arrdtrigmieRtSj^ 
ildViiiiUftd  ^th  the  ptofoukideft  fiknce, 
efieivingj  iand  lay,  during  the  ftight, 
tigudus  to  the  Ibrvrefs.,     Earlypn  ^* 
morning,  they  approached  (o  clortt  ai^  be  a| 
bletogivt  '{atisfa6lory  ini<»tnatjbn|€to  the 
general  who  had  rent- them,  oaMii!t  ^ernf 
points  to  which  their  atteitfion  ha^^lKien  di- 
rected ;  but  Captam  Rogeri^|jcing  at#  littje^ 
diftarnce  from  Captain  Putiifej  fortiiitoufly 
met  a  ftbuc  Frenchman,  who  in  ft  ami  y.  leizcd 
his  fiizee  with   one  hand  and  with^the  oth^r 
attempted  to  ftab  him,  while  he  called  to  an 
Ad^Gcnt  guard  for  alTiftance.      The   guard 
ed.     Putnam>  perceiving?  the   immi- 
m<5i5t  danger  of  hisf  friend,   and  that  no  titn^,^ 
-ifMtQ  be  loft-or  farther  alarnfv  mvcn  bj^Jf-^^ 


1  S^^^- 


<      30      ) 


Ing,  ran  rapidly  to  them,  while  they  were  yet 
-^ftrukgHng,ancl  with  the  butt-end  of  his  piece 


laidlhe  Frenchman  dead  at  his  feet.  The 
partizans,  to  elude  purfuit,  precipitated  their 
flight,  joined  the  party  and  returned  with- 
out lofs  to  the  encampment.  Not  many 
pecaiions  occurred  for  p^rtizaAs  to  difplay 
their  talents  in  the  coune  of  this- fummer. 
The  #ar  was  <!heq^ered^rth  various  fortune 
indifferent  quarters^-^^h  a9  the  toial  defeat 
1^  General  Braddock,  latrtd  the  ;f|^  vic- 
-idry  of  Sir  Wiiliiim  ^Jbhafon  >^ 
f|eiieh  tfbops  comman^il^  by  tfee  'Baron 
£|eflEau.  The^^i^^yiianic;^  f»f^^^^^^ 
Heceflary  to  conlbte  the  ^ttilric^slbr  iMl< 
gf  ace  Jif  that  dilafter.  Here  I  might,  indt 
^take  a|)ride  in  contrafting  the  condud  of  the 
Britijb  Regulars,  who  had  been  ambufcaded 
on  the  A^nongahela  I  with  that  of  the  t^ro- 
vlnciltfs  (under  Johnfon)  who,  having  been 
attacked  in  th^r  lines,  gallantly  repulfed  the 
enenvf  and  took  their  General  prifoner  :  did 
I  confider  myfelf  at  liberty  to  iWell  this  effay 
with  refledbibns  on  events,  in  which  Putnam 
not  directly  concerned,  The  time  for  which 
the  coliwiijdtroops  engaged  to  ferve,  te:^nnin- 
ated  with  the  campaign.  Putnam  was  r^pp-* 
pointed  and  again  took  the  field  in  I7i6i,  ' 

Ft'ware  r«l-nq;i\in:cf\va;  t's  nr^t^o  know, 


(      31      ) 


that  military  adventures,  in  the  night,  are  tjt* 
ways  extremely  liable  to  accidents.    Capui^ 

.  Putnam,  having  been  commanded  to  jI^qii^ 
noitre  the  enemy's  camp  at  th  QviMS^  licar 
^itonderoza^  took  the  brave  Lieutenant  Ro- 
bert Durkee  as  his  companion.    In  attempt- 

.  in§  to  execure  thefe  or<^ers,  he  narrpWly^  miff- 
ed being;-  taken  himfdf  in  the.  firft  inftance 
and  kiiiii^  his  friend  in  the  fecond*    It  was 
cuftomary  for  ti:^  Briti&  and    Pnmncial 
troops  to  ,pliicc  ti^Bres  round  thftir  ^amj 
whi^fi  fi^aii^iitlyeiKpofedthemtoth^eni 
iCQUt$  Mm  patroies.     A  con^mrf  pri<l 
th^nnJUMivn  in  the  Englilhjmny^pii 

^iafnong-tfje  French  a(nd  Indian^  1^ 
ilan  was  much  more  rational ;  thiey  l^pt their 
fires  in  the  centre,  lodged  their  men  circulac- 
lyafa  diftance  and  pofled  ^ein  centinds  in 
Uie  furrounding  darkncfs.  Our^frarttzans 
approached  the  camp— and  fup||(^g  t^e  . 
centries  were  within  the  circle  of  fires,  crept 
upon  their  hands  and  knees  Hvith  the  grc;ateft 
poffible  caution,  until,  to'thcir  ucter^onifh- 
meftt,  they,  found  thennfclvcs  in  the  tWckeft 
of  the  enemy.     The  centinel^  difcovcring 

|,tlwi>  fired  and  (lightly  wounj^Durkee  In 
i^^  He  and  Putnam  h^i|^:ak«ri|S.^ 

im    Thtyficd.      The  latt^-^iS^g,  "^^^"^ 
moft  andfcaccly  able  to  fee  fei^^^j^^ 

.^him,  fboB  plunged  ijuo  aclay-pit,%r 


■^^-...,y^:^^'^^  ■ 

♦  V,-  ■ 

"  •,,•''>""-''''  >'  ■■"''•'    ^* . 

'  ;  ■■-fJ- 

ii^lli^li 

M 

fV*:  *>«. 


.#< 


i      3i      ) 


almolt  at  the  identical  moment,  came  ttrmo- 
ling  after.  Putnam,  by  no  means  pleafed  at 
■^  finding  a  companion  and  believing  him  to  be 
one  of  the  enemy,  lifted  his  tomajiawk  to  give 
the  deadly  blow — when  Diirkce,  (who  .had 
followed  ib  ek)fcly  a)3  to  know  him)  eiiquiTcd 
whethe^f  he  had  efcaptd  unhuit.  r  Captain 
Putnam,  inftantly  recognizing  the  voice> 
dropped  his  w^apo-n :  «nd  botk»  fpringing 
frdmiie  j|pit»imde  g^d  tl^ir^  tm 

>>ei^fc^ng  lec%€is>  atfnidft  "a  Ifeowcr  <^  rai>- 

a^rgc  l<%^^^b^  iJhc  iWe  of  i«if^  thityioc^ 

-the  remaindei'  W  the  nigjit.    It^ 

^^a#ii^  Captain  Putnanci  Ikid  hfehid  i^ll 

j^naiijg  his  canteen,  #hith  c^uld  never 

inpjpc  tM^ce|>table  or  neceflKiry  j  but  on  exam- 

j^ining  the  canteen,  which  hun.g  undir  his 

^Irm,  hiifound  theen^y  had  pierced  it_wkh 

their  l^aOs  arid  that  there  wai  not  a  drop  of 

liquot^  left.     Th||pcxt  day  he  found  fourteen 

bulkt -holes  yi^^blanket. 


In  iht  fanrie  fummettbody  of  the  enemy, 
confifting  of  600  men,  attacked  the  baggage 
and-provifioa  waggons  ac  a  place  called  p| 
half-way  br«^k  -,  it  being  equidiftant  -fr^iii  : 
Fort  Edwi^-dy.  and  the  fouth  end  of  f afce 
George*  ^^aVing  killed  the  oxen  and  plun- 
.de^cdty^  waggons,  they  leueat^  w^th  tlitir 


■Jf*-' 


(      33      ) 


M 


it 
tt 


booty  without  having  metwith  iuch  rr^iftanc^ 
"as  might  have  been  expeded  fronntheu.en^th 
of  thcefcort.  General  Webb,  upon  receiv- 
ing intelligence  of  this  difafter,  ordered  the 
Captains  Putnam  and  Rogers  <<  to  take  lOO 
"  volunteers  in  boats,  with  two  wall-pieces 
'<  and  two  blunderbuITes,  and  to  proceed 
<*  down  lake  George  to  a  certain  point :  there 
to  leave  the  batteau;^  under  a  proper  guard, 
and  Ihenoe  to  crofst  by  hn  foas  to  harrafs 
and  i|r  |»rii^i($ail)|^  Intvrce^^  retreating 
i^ilfi^^i^Ml^  Theft  ordcra 

^jipfii^ei^ip^  much  pupftualityi  thsic 

^^''"^'1iiii^*t;the'dcftiH  place^feillfan' 
ll  the  iMtile  boats  canie  in  f  lew. 
they^paited,  udHer  cover,  until  tht  en- 
emy .(ignorant  of  thefe  proceedings)  entered 
the  narrows  with  their  batteaux  loaded  with 
plunder.  Theii  the  volunteers  poi^pd  ujpon 
them  volley  after  volley,  killed  m%nf  qfthp 
oarfiff^n,  funk  a  number  of  the  batteauXf 
and  woul^  fbon  have  dedioyed  thewiK^e 
body  of  the  enemy,  had  not  the  unit^llj^ic- 
cipitancy  of  their  p^ffagc  (favq^^pr  the 
^iN^d)  <;:arried  them  through  the  hSrrO^s  into 
;^jl^e  part  of  South  Bayj  wli«lt  they  were 
^^^f  th<e  reach  of  m u  fquet  (h^i;  The  ihat- 
*  rentfiant  of  the  little  fleet  ^n  arrived 
'at  Ttcondcroga  and  gave  infoiSnSatton  diat 
n^nd  Rogers  were  at  thife  nftrroliw.   A 


i*%»«*'*'<'iV 


'> 


( i^^.  . ) 


iprtfli  party  was  mAtntly  detached  to  cut  them 
in  pieceis,  on  their  return  to  Fort  £dward. 
Our  partisans,  fenftble^of  the  probability  of 
fuch  an  attempt,  aiod  j>eing  full  twenty  miles 
from  their  boats,  ftnl^  every  nerve  to  reach 
them  a|  ibon  as  polTiblis  i  #h}ch  tliey  ^e^ed 
the  tuiit  inghr.  Neitt  day,  wh^n  ^tvsf  had 
returned  at  fir  asSafbbathday^Point,  Jh^ 
^fttmr^^  onftorei  the  before  nientickned 
jietiic&ent  df ^ob  n^i^i^^       pail|d[theiA 


'•"*  •'*■' 
'•/f., 


^^otRrpiity^^took tothrir:l|^"'^''''' '''^^^  ^.v^-.-.^ .^. 


#r  alacrity,  9i]d  rowiej| 
ilk;    Ti%^ 

jibi^ineiiit  and  H^idt^a^ng  tlSlii| 
|bft^|iro^  fronflh^ 

Ijie^  j^ipef'i^ri^  i^liheir  numbers.  Fluihed 
aiSS^  <|^ff^  expeAations,  tliey  were  perrtwtted 
^%<^nil  within  pii^o^-fliot  before  a  gun  was 
"^r^/ vkt  ortcc^^^^  and  Wundcr- 

1^^,  which  had  been  brought  to  rakethem 
M  th<;;:ii>oIb  vukcrable  point,  wer^  <di^^9^g^ 
edJ^^^pllio  Aich  reception  had  been  forefecn,. 
tbelMpfit^^s  welt  thrown  into  the  utmoft 
dilbrd^.    vJTheir  terrbi*  and  confufioa  tUprp 

§rcatly  ei^w^fti^^by  a  well-diresfted  aaftnhoft: 
cftro^iVe  0re  df  the  imaH  arm^;  Th%lir- 
ger  ^ki^  being  r^aded,  iKritli^  annoy-* 


ande^j0ictnl^>iiternatdy         the  mufcniet- 
ry  to  malaxiiwwKul  havoc,.  uft#%hciou^ 


m-' 


(      35      ) 


^y ^completed  and  the  enemy  driven  back 
tjE»  IPiconderoga.  In  this  adtiofii  one  of  th^ 
(MiriE  ^pnoes  contained  twenty  Indians,  of 
#loifn  fifteen  were  killed.  Great  nunnbers, 
frpfn:  other  boats,  both  of  French  and  In* 
dianiwere  feen  to  fall  overboard :  but  the 
account  of  their  total  loft  could  i^ever  be  af* 
certaineti.^  R9gm  and  Suiiria^  but  one 
maoMt^raiMt^^  They 

^^^^        ^^ 

I  returned  ingaoAoi^ 


Provincial 


S^  rencounters,  a  finppafir 
run  by  our  iiinnbieTf|«^edi^:, 
an  adive  young  Freiiciuian. 
Thi|)ibferty  of  each  was  by  t^rns  j?rt  ftftcf 
Gei§ral  Webb,. wanting  a  prifo^^||| :  the 
fake  of  ifftriligence,  lent  Capt.  I^niiaai  wtsth 
five  men  to  prpcure  one.    The  Captaih  con* 
cealed  him§lf  near  the  road  which  1^0  from 
Ticofide^a  to  the  Ovens.     His  rniiijKefn^ 
ed  ifbifidof  ihewing^themielves,  whi^  MfoU 
dierlike  conduct  lie  jirohibited  |rith  the  fe- 
vifi^  If prehenlion.      This  rebt#e  they  im- 
ptM^  f>  AI0  fear.     The  phicrvatioO; 

IS  y Jpic  ifcilgar,  that  per(bns,  #ftin^^ 
ablie  fer  tc^rity  when  there  is  i^  j^afq^^; 
ii  la-e  generally  polt|o<ws  |irhe^^^ 
approaches;    They 


'i. 


*V' 


.  -»*.-,     .jt-j  -;»•  |t  -- t.^ft'*'*^^"'' 

'  '■  *  ■■<.  '•■ir' 


r^  •  9 


•r 


» 


(      3«      ) 


m 


it 

in  the  high  ffrafs»  before  a  Frenchman  and  an 
Indian  paifed— the  Indian  was  confiderably  in 
advance.  As  foon  as,  the  former  had  gone  I7, 
Putnam,  rdylng  on  the  fidelicy  of  his  Mtn^ 
ijpriing  up>  ran  and  ordered  them  tofoUo#v 
After  roninng  about  thirty  rods»  he  feized  the 
Frcnchmaii  by  the  flibukiers  aijd  fimred  h1^ 
to  Airrendq^!  But  iiis  ^ri%nq^  looking 
found,  percdyilig  i^  other  enediv  and  know- 
Mi  the  Indifaii  w^Mil^be:  rft||v^B  f  moment 

iojieii  into  a  pe 

'  ft^pp^  back  aAd     i,., ,1   -—i, 

^  Halted  tt  the  ftti^^^sWSm: 

re^    Upon  this,  he  l^iightlt  moft 

retreat.;  ThePrcnchiilw,  lhli|imi 

i^ick  ta  his  m^n,  who,  at  laft'^if- 

,^,-,.5,.^, ipi  from  the  grafs  J  whi^^his  purr 

■^^r^dfyitig  in  good  time  for  Mmelf,  made 
■:'Wi^^0§m' .    Putnam,    mortified  tKat  thefe 
f  f^l^E^^pl^fruftrated  his  f\icce(#dilmi|[ed  them 
^-^irftllipicc  i  and^not  long  ^r  accom- 
:i^* '^ilhed  h^  S^h  lirdc  feats,   as  the 

Capture  |pi&gle«prifbnct,  may  B^  ^  infi- 
nitely m^feconfequence  chan^^fi^|i|  who  i^re 
unacqui^ffid  with  niilitary  afliW^l^ould  bi^ 
i^tic^iiri^ne.  In  a  eountrjr  c^ered  Wi^ 
:woo^s,  iiit  that  part  of  At^ric|#h«ii  ti4_ 
feat  of  waff  thcxiiiEcultyof  |^curing^'«id. 


"Uid 


'i' 


««i^->»' 


«-■ 


(      37      ) 

the  impdtttnce  of  poffeHiogt  good  ii 
gence  can  feared  y  be  conceive^  even  bf  E^U' 
lopcAfi  cemmftoderii    Tt^eyi  liowevpr,  who 
knq^flts  valiieKV  ill  not'appr^di^  Ugntly  the* 
i^oei  of  audible  parti):a(K 


{^HoTHiNi^.lvarthyof  r/cmvM^.  hv 


z  I 


tcgo.     TiiiiJFdrt,  v|r|ticii  ^  been  built 


^  M 


F^%' 


rqw%th^ 

>i<^Mii^a(ioa'^C 
dr<d  pieee* 

■         •    .  -^  ^'-  .  ,■   ...    •     '  •:   ■■■■'*. 
Tiui  a^rve  fen?ice(i  of  Capolil 
e¥Ci!y  ocqafion  ac^^k4);ed  th^  adj^p 
pub]  ici  «ad  indope4<the;  ]^gi(p|li!^|g(pr 
ncaieut  to  prwiotfihina  to  amajd^i^Jja  ^1^ J^ 


*    r 


^ 


'.    f 


i^i," 


, — ^v 


,I^RD  Louden  wai  then  Oxtimaajer  i 
Chief  of  the  Britilh  forces  in  Anif^mmfitk 
wqdition  ^^  tlMrn  Poinyp^i 
the  cfl*Tirt]«icem^t  oChoftaitieaT^ '  •*  * 
pi^^aipl^i^^t^^  give  p] 
|a)|I^Kain|HM^i^  t^at  ym  me 

0^lg»  ^  Rul  the  iirriva) 
i  atthXt^^ce  preve^t^dpe  ataTtiipci . 
ihelofe  ofFOT  WiUia^iir^ '^:^ 


*?^. 


3'f^ 


•»*st 


•J' 


i  fl   ) 


/ 


\ 


«&t%i&thisiiFlth  the  two  for-mer  tmfuccefsAil 
€aimt)ftts;fis.  It  ^is  Tumoufed  and  pardal^ 
<fredte^at  the  time*  that  QmtSttil  V^tkb,  wha 
iJdmAaiidkd  4n  i3ie  iiorehem  de|iartiyMiic«  kad 
early  immation  tif  ^h  inovfinenic  ^  the 
French  Jmy*  and  mi^  ha^  f€e€luaUy  fgc« 
cotoHfd  i§ie  ^iito.    i;ti(b  ^ibfcqfiem  mU 

%fi#aiyii«ie(te^  tuts 

H^i^  The  d]^  >fi^tt  to  «i^iiie  ^^ 
*^^ifei«Jrt}ficatioHi  whk^  J(P%ri^ 
^tli^  iJisrtpfty  of  Ukc  <3«%p  Sw*«t 
«bo^feit^ai^  having  been  ni^  by  Major 

0n^M^l^  imi  at  NoiistmiBftJ^  and 
|»if if  <m^»re»  tantU'hecoidd  make  Atiafap- 
^i^ydifcovery  of  tlic  enemy's  a€t«airitpij^ 
mt  Tii^ieroga  and  ibe  adjac^ 
l^anMp#^  he  fiigfdlefQ  <>f  kndi^j^hh^ 
onlyMi5%andfen<tt^  * 

jpm^m  die^ltofi,  wa*  cteemcd  j^^Jbmfo* 
IW  if  tl^l^ml.    Attength^f^^rlivhe 

-  ^m^m^^  ' 

hini^iini  dti^  i  hrSWh^  he 

iiiid'at  Niittfirefl^Bay  hcdi|fcOverri  abo* 
4^f^fncn  m  «i  lOand,    Iiiitl^ediatcljr  tipM 


"■^'..;:l:    ..-.• 


f  •• 


>4" 


-  ,* 
,^illl 


■  ■,:i' 


f     39^     } 


iUs^  he^ltft  two  boacs^^  to  gJb^  «tadift«K^, 
tiMC  chcy  QiMglM  QQC  oqciifiqtA  an^  abrm^'and 
.  j^jturntd:  hitn&lf  with  ihfs  mCi^jPcnatroif .  Thjt 
GiNieral>feeing4iin(vrowipg  WIc  wUtvgrcat  v^¥ 
kiciiy*.  ift  a^  ftf^gl^  km,  cooclu^iid  t^  otheca 
were  capturci^jiii^;  fenc  a  JMflTwitkp^ers  for 

'^  Gm&^vfWm^f^m^  Jti?  ujgcd 

the  ctplllienc^  l^^returnlng  1^  fmm 

^"'       -*^    --  *  *  -igoflFthc  boai^.     Leave 

'iliilBililiiiiM^        fow»d  hif^  people, 

perC]^<BQiv«  glafa>  ab»^  ar^ 
Wf  tws  time  ftyer4  oiTthe  ad- 
had  iiearty  jritrrotMidc#«h}ifi» 
fii^ltnQ&oC  hit- whaTe^b^ajTs,  he 
f fpaped  fhiN)€igh  the  mi^ft  of  theim  ^hia 
Ttv^rn  ho  informadi  the  Gf nei^i  mif|i|iN^  of 
alt  he  had  feen,,  and  iniiimied'  ki%rjl^^m(Xk 
th^  theex^dilioamuft  obirioM%  iN»  defttjir 
ed  againft  Fbtt  WiHiam-lle«»y^^MCom^ 
maAdefj, ilt^Aif  eojomi^^oce  on  tho  fiib* 
|ed^i  direSNwUito-  pHljiW  men  under  an 
oat^  cif IJBCrecy  aod^  pnepii^,,  wkhovt  iois 
of  dnne^  tMtttim  mm  (fi^ad  C^uters  of  the 


mad 

but,  b3r 


>r.- 


.m 


m 


m. 


\ 


M  : 


■^(^ 


(       4&      > 

Gieinral.  Accordingly  the  next  4*y  he  ret 
ttfriled  and  the  day  after  Colonel  Monro  was 
ordered  from  Fort  Edward,  with  hid  regf^ 
ifaent,  to  reinforce  the  garrilbfi.  Thai;  om^-' 
'ter  took  with  him  all  his  rich  baggage  and 
caiftp  c^ipagCi  nptw^thftahciing  Major  Pui^ 
nam's  ftlvke  tcf the  coiittary.  The  day /ot 
JowHig  hiisarriyiliithe  cncnrtf  landed  aiiflb^^ 
fieg<^thi?^e.    ^  *  ^ 

irh^Mai^isde0ontc|)f«^>€dinmanderifi . 

^Cliieffo»  the  Frenchiii  Cld^iAl^ndinQ  to  y 

tikl^fantige  of  the  abfcnce  ofa  krge  pro- 

g^6n  of  the  Britifh  force,  which  he  undci^ 

*m#l  to  be  employed  under  Lord  toudo»^€- 

%aiift  Louifbotirg)  Irad  affembled  whatever 

tmi^ourd  be  fpared  from  ^Ticondero^a, 

CwHi^h #bmt  and  the  other  garrifonsj    with 

*^ijl^lie#id  eombined  a  confiderable  cprps  of 

i^^Ci^iadians  and  a  larger  body  of  Indians  thaa 

■ISiKle^er  before  been  collected:    making  in 

<h^  #hole  an  army  of  ncarlyjight  thoufand 

^ttieHi.    Oiar  garrifoit  confift«§%f  twenty-five 

htindiii  md  Iras  cominanded  ^^olonel 

Moni^,  tf^y  gallan^lBcer  I  wliil  i§^und  the 

means  0fteMingei|ptifsiafterexprefar  to  Gca* 

%ral |/7ebi|^ith  ak  accomtt  orfils  fituaticrn 

ii^tteiiW  preffi%fiiHcif«tiofi^1liecc^. 

_^9i^n  twnc,  the  army  at  Fof t -llwar^, 

h  olriginally  sMiiounted  t(x  about  fo^ 


r^ai .  ">--. 


.^^ 


^if; 


'■■"^^ 


C    «»     ) 


Aouiaiiidi  had  beeir  confidertbljr  tugoiifinedl 
by  Johnron''fcpoopt  and  die  militia*'  Q^ilir 
$A  or  fth  daf  after  the  landing  of  the- 
Fnineh^Geaeril  JbhiifMi  (in  confe^oencc  of 
nepeatedappliaiuoiii^  was  Aiflfered  to  marcli 
fcr  there^d^«f  tk«  fa^  the 

l^vinciiby  Miltd«^aa4  Ptitlkam  fUngen  i. 
but  btfere  tiie]|%ad  floiBiff^  miks^ 

iht  ^Kkr  If  aa  eciMtlimpdc^  re- 

IPW*rr  aw^^jprtid^, 

iathdril^gii^ 


^^.fkt;-Ml^jKs^-  ffi^iidccl  an4 
nilde  Ibf  ^  4mba»)ung^  wh^a  ju 
foiilpMtt^^^^l^  iche  dmciMHiiK  hdd» 

fOfte4>a^  The  M&rq«is  de  Mamcahny^ro- 
vid|#wk)r  n  goock^tr«ia<^  artini»7^  n^^ 
iHtbM  aiMffaAca  ftoiii^d^ 
bm  uicoali|pr  ilbic  t«teCT^>ti(BNi'  fioa>  ^  gani- 
feii»  a<i^eliNP^e|i'  his  uppfoactes  fom»dly  aatdr 
•btaiQ|^fli<p.of dit  fort,: iniifcM  nttm 
after  f(|NA|d!B$iii§  i^  «^^  Wm^ 


tbtmufiE<er»  n^  f tnt  pco 
•tlMooiO  by  Ihe  Fren^kiOou^ 


V"^!!*!,,™ 


'  ■Ml- 


■tt.> 


m^^*51 


C      42       > 


?m^  garrilbn  engaged  ndc  to  fenre-  for 
^hteen  months^  and  were  permitted  to  marcb 
out  witht  the  honors  of  war..  But  the  Sava- 
ge^, regarded,  not  the  capiti^tion^  nor  could 
.  they  be  reftrained».  by  the  qtnioflL  exertion  of 
the  Con)aiandiBgO|icer>  from  comn>ittfiig 
the  moft  outragj^uSv  a6i:s  of  Cruelty.:  -  They 
^pped  aodipTuHidered  all  th^  prifonersy.  and 
iiiiiiitiered  great  |iu(nber<s  in  cold  bloo4. 
1($Mpi^  who  eicap^  |^  Sight  oe  ^^e:,  protec- 

\^  dftlon  Jit, Fort  UAm^  i^:im^0^^iii$^  ^  i 
l^;€*Bmai;dant  oCtheGK^fe 


tWAnf  Aicce«ding  iMf. 
lage  anai  barbiu;ity,  ^ 

'dij|nM:ched  widiLllH^  to 

[^  iiioiion&  of  the  enedfiy^.  came  to  tjbe 
>re>.  n^o.  th^ftjear  iipicarc^ly  Ikyond  tfce 
:h  of  muiquet  fhot.  "^  They  f  bad  carried 
«ff;ft)L  the  cannon^,  ftofcs.  and  water-craft. 
ThcFort wa8.d«ltM4iaied.  ThibarracksVthe 
O^tJimifes  and  futtltrs  hooth|  ii|pre  heayps  of 
i^n#  r  '^e^eesi,  ?tot  yetj  eirti^lt^  :iiim  the 
]v:e  ^x»^  thii  mucilagi^s  na-' 
1,  but  dif  toncealed  ifuiiimera^ 
lan  ikut^  mnd  bones, 
rti^  ti^corifimR- 
_  iii>^oods^4«|ttie 


iry^wbere  to  be 


4- 


wamon    mutilations    of  favage  iogfUQJlf.. 

vMorp than  one  hundred  wonnen>  foincil^v 
their  brains  Hill  oozing  from  th^  battered 
lieads,  others  with  clv^ir  whole  hair  wrenched : 

-  colledtively-wkK  the  (ki a  from  the  bloody 

'■  fcwlb,  ancifpaivy  (with  tfafiiihroars  <*ii!)  mpft. 
inliumanly  ftabbed  arfu  bi||chettd  s  ^ay  Itjrip- 
pcd^«iittReb  naked,,  with/4ihcw  vh^^wcJs  toriv. 

.  out,,  and  afforded  a. fp^dAcif  too  horrible  &f 


■'3~;i!' 


•  f 


_^^^  cmtingi  tup|p|b^^4  To  qp w 

B0tl$iJ^gijaarsXat;the  be#i^^ 
.  ftlkmt  lii^eliuiidred  Wis  ej^w^lrd  o{  ^ 
^-rlpwhick^  htfl^v^cpmmunicatioiiv  I^. 
tongue  of  iMC&roEied  mS^t  oo.e  fide 
iwanrtp  aodJqfia  credc^^oiii  ck  ditSlri*.  -m 

Cliit:im)ritt«iB^ 
ladiftiiiaAffTifeveiiA^        as*  hfe-cgS^ted, 

coinc  fr^m  thei  fwaia|p[  and  fly  lisiiir-Wm  wkh 

iiHpedible  (wif^fs^    While  K 

iogibttt  liiffi^  lioiilerifulbirds  and 

J^yi^fonN^M|^Q|4Mif  color, 

ia  iia:ow4>4ra  kfclf  in  ihc 


....?a4, 


ffi''*^J^"  ■ 


It/*** 


-^fTJ^ 


(     44      ) 

JMI  ilky?e  his  ketd.  He  now  difcbv  ered  cht 
^^tty,  aflid  deftgn  of  thefe  witigtd  incflen* 
ftH%  Of  fite,  Mfid  gaye  the  alarm,.  Inftantfy 
ttie  working  part)r  beg«n  to  ivtrcat  along  the 
defile.  A  large  body  of  Sairagei,  had  coii* 
cealed  chemfelmtii^tKc  isiorar»  bcfiire  the 
|iKtfa  was  pofted|, were  atceoiliting  in  this  way 
to  kill  tb9  leiiclliel  without  noife»,  Jiith  tlefiga 

'^MM^iiid] 

(|Fcil^^ipliiHii«^ 

immmLmii^^  mifw&i 

:aAi|itfM^.1tt^^ 

■.'eniwny  wiW' 

•ti  liUnd  iMpcMl^^^  ibMngliaiid 

^^•tiyi^|jft§  anA  learned  tlultjtib.  fHtnd 

_  _     b^«»  the  fiver  «i^^  ipUt^oflii^^ 


-•fti 


1^ 


\^ 


L   "A' 


J^ 


^il,jtiki4-l,  .,' 


^Kf 


(      45      ) 

the  place  of  engagement.    This  brought  h|^ 

foneanto  the  Fort,  that  General  Lyman,  sibM" 

'prized of  his  deligQ  and  unwilling  tha(  uie 

Mves  of  a  few  more  bravqpen  (hould  be  ex* 

.  poTed  to  what  he  deemed  inevitable  deftruc^ 

: tidn>  mounfedthe  parapc^ti^d  ordered  him  to 

proceed  no  farther.    The  Major  only*  took 

tinie  to  itiake  the  beft  (hort  afiolpgy  he  could 

and  marched  bi|%,    This  is  the  only  inftangp 

^iihthc:jf^fc|»^^  l^:'hi»':military^,  fevici?, 

^'«ff6pe^ii|pi|^^^  obedienc<6 

-l^ciip^li^l^i^^^t^  motive 

6riNii^d|ible»     But  when  (iicK 

ii^|^^%  if  ian&ified  by  fuci^,  is  paff^ 

jiihity,  it*de«npnftratc$  dial 

in  the  military yfyftcm.    i?Iim 


^ 


difctplined  army,  fuch  a%  th{i|  <>f the  Uipited 
States  became  under  General  Wi^hii^^n,  an 
oiHcer  guilty  of  aHighter  ytolatibn  orco^erv. 
however  elevated  in  rank  or  meritprioits'  jti 
fervk^  would  have  been  brought  btefSre  ^j|^ 
l^iiim^mn  Martiiili  Weie  it^not  l^rtht 
fedufiEive  tendency  dfa  brave  mail's  eif^tsi^Ie,^ 
I  mi^htlifive  been  fpared  th^oioftiUcat^n  of 
makhif^  dhglereniiurks  on  the  c^ihy^  c^  #a 
d^cer;  whofe  diftinguiihing  cfafiltfierifticii 
were  promp^tude  for  dqty  andj^^  of^bk^-^ 
didatioh  ae^ell M  cheerfulneiV^^^Plp^ 
t^ety  ^(Mi  of  difficijlty  and  diangerif^,. 


1*  ■* 


:>j 


•s-vS.X;;J 


■^ti^-^ 


.       «^     .    - 


'  -f-^W- «■  ..     •'art. 


:^ 


!*,•?»>*  /■ 


W 


¥  ^ 


(         4«         ) 

^  Tut  Rangers  of  Futnam  foon  open^^  their 
^y  for  a  jundion  with  the  little  handful 
of  Regulars,  who  (tilt  obftinately  maincaiAed 
tfiteiir  groimd.  By  his  advice  the  whole  nifl»r- 
cd  impetuoufiy  with  flioius  and  huztat  iMi 
the  fwamp..  *  The  Savages  ftc4  on  every  fide 
and  were  chafedj^  with  no  inconfiderab^e  lofs 
on  their  pHwt^  as  lohg  as  the  day-Kght  lafted. 
Oft  ours  t)n)y  one  man  wa^  Jeilled  in  the  puv- 
ftiic  H!s  death  was  imibediateiy  rcvfii|dt 
tf  idiat  of  the  IhAiMi  wl^  <|im»(  hkn.  pus 
Indian  was  one  ^Hie  RdMiSl»*fH^!GJbfl^l  ^ 
dy  ofaaive  young  tneili  if^^^^ 
Wt  only  tn  procure  inteBijgcnCfn^  ,5^-^^ 
tkSi^y,  but  alfa  to  guard^the  iear;i^lpp||^,$i| 

» .H«UE  k  will  hot  be  un^aTonable  to  men- 
tbti  fome  of  tlus  cufloms  ia  war,  peculiar  to 
t^  aborigiiies,  i^bich,  on  the  prei^nl  as  well 
as  ot^  .pccafions,  they  put  ih  pradkicc. 
Wheiiever  a  retreating^  efpiecialiy,  a  flying 
party  had  gMned  the  Ainlniir^  a  rilli^ 
grouftd  1^  tlwy  fecreCed  one  or  tw^  runners 
behind tites,  ^OR**  ^^  biibes  to-,mt  at  the 
cwal^iiJ^  thci^  a^^  This 

i:dmnio<it)r  iKcaffoned  the  en^  to  halt  ai^ 
form^biitte.  In  the  imerifin^  the  runners 
^ii^  ^#^£terity  isto  be  ritfcj^  diftdi^ered, 
ct  if  tffcbvercdj,  they  viriiflieci  bchimi  the 
kc^-wtd  rejoined  thet  brcKbcr-WAtriars^ 


.n 


^:i 


(47      ) 


'■'*'■. 


Ht&p^  having  thus  <^ricn  a  diftanct>  were  ol^ 
teniimea  feen  by  their  purfuera  no  more.  Or 
if  die'^purfuers  were  too  eager  tliey  fcldoin 
fa^  to  atone  for  their  rafhnefs  by  falling  in* 
toanainbutcide.  The  Mohawks,  who  wei^ 
afterwards  n^chempkfyW^^ 
orders  of  Maj^r  Piitnairi»  and  who  wm  pei^ 
fedly  yerfedi  m  ^|be  wiles  an4  JRiatagems 
^ibeiriieMp^  the  mode^ 

<X^ibfmMSim^tmSi^  .dtemative*' 

i»d(  al  Mt  i^ders  of 
In^iienc^  a  ^pofnentary 

Ipilcehded  wifchiiiUriouA 
_^  fecesOitydefigSfea.-  t^ 
fefnned  «H  tft  and  ear.  Jfl^  jlw  ^nd 
m  liipl«gjmfchi(^  thitiy^i^pS^^ 
tmthand  and  pionbuhte  the  wordj  ''  lw% 
<<  isii/' with  t  Jong  Ijibialhimng^  the  ObBng 
daH>ft  qiiieieeht.  This  was  ever  the  watcC 
wofdibr  tte  main  body  to  advaiice. 

IkdiaJ%  who  went  to  war  toi 
who  for  anl:reaj|bh  found  it  neci 
ai^|c  inlo  diill^rent  itHJtesj  alwaj 
thiie  Rlinnm  at  the  jpiicc  of  fe^ 
give  ttnieiy  notice  t|>  either  pa<^ll 
purfuit. 

Ir  W§|rri0r  ^chanood  41^1^^ 


Jl 


m 


(       48      ) 


•.»«- 


m^ 


himfelf  in  the  woods,  or  to  ble  retarded  hj 
accident  or  wound ;  the  party  mifling  him 
would  frequently,  on  their  march^  break 
down  a  bum  or  a  Ihrub  and  leave  the  top 
pointing  in  the  direction* they  had  gone,  that 
the  ilragg)er,  when  he  fhould  behold  it,  might 
ihape  his  courfe  accordingly. 

k^  Wi tome  to  tfa^ ;cat1^fp%n  wl^n^ General 

J^.  ■.J!iM)ercrombic  to0k':the:«^^ij^^ 

I*  -  iiward.    Thaf  Generar'^'#iii*ii|^ 

South  Bay  on  'LaktGti^^^ 

of  nukiftg  difcoveries  ani^ 

eheifi^'s  parties.     Tjie  latter j 

with  fh*?fe*  ori^s,  polled  himfclf  at  Wood 

^r^l^  hear  its  entrance  inta  South  Bay^.  <i|li: 

^si^  bank,  which  ftffli|ii  a  jutting  preci|)tefe 

1^  or  twelve  f^  above  t|ie  wateri  he  ere€t?d 

|fe|j^  m^^m  parapet  thirtj^ff|5|, in: length* jaiitf 

^  J^  wit^  y6ur%Ttiiti^tr^Si  Q^t  atf^a^jdiC^ 

^^"^^  and  (b  artfully  pkntei#s  1 1  iimirate 

grbwili/    'Fp^^ 

^n  of  his  men,  wirtj  |^  Men  fick, 

JpKiif  i^  want  of  f^vific^lp^aiipnedb^ 

tiie^  l^gp  of  march  Jtndtinn«»:i^         this 

tenF|p(i|a#  fbf  tifi^atJ^niibii^B^^        P^^" 

^ate  from  a  rule  he  had  eiUU^^j^nf vavixi 

ferniit  a  gun  to  be  fired  but  j  at.  an^  encm^, 

while  oil  a  io&dC  He wa^iiow  #li^^i#ih 


^ 


4<K>»."^/ 


■•jS- 


(      49      ) 


ielf  to  (hoot  a  buck)  which  had  jumped  into 
the  Crtek»  in  order  to  eke  out  their  fcanty 
fubfiftence  until  the  fourth  day  after  the  com* 
ptetiOn  of  the  works.  About  ten  o'clock 
that  evening!  one  of  the  men  on  duty  at  the 
margin  of  j£e  Bay  infonK^  him>  that  a  fleet 
of  bark  caiioesi  filled  wlJMi^'n^  was  (leering 
towards  the  mojtitb  of  ti|j|PPt#  He  iitime* 
iiattly'  caUe4|>^hl)^^  ordered 

^^T^^'ftf^^^^?^*  A  pro(QUnd  (biUhds 
^i^^^^'^flPWil^^'t'  and  the  full  mooi|,. 

m  brightndt*  The 
?ilir  enemy  entered^  is  about  fix 
llhebiankoppofltetothe  parapet 
^^liiJiSrc  t^ty  (eet  high.  It  was  intended 
to*  permit  the  canoejs  in  front  to  pafs*^they 
had  accordingly  jufl:  pafled,  when  a  fddier  ac* 
cidenrallyftruck  his  firelock  ajRainft  a  (tone. 
The  c6mmanding  officer  in  the  van  csinot 
heard  the  noife  and  repeated  feveral  times  the 
Savage  iratcli^oi^^OWisH!  Inftafltly  the 
canoes  huddled  together,  with  their  .^ttc 
precifely  in  front  of  tJie  works^  coveriifg'thib 
creek>  for  aconfiderable  diftanee>  ab^ve  and 
below,  The  officers  appeareid  ta  6c  in  deep 
cirnfultation  aftd  the  fleet  on  thf  point  of  rc- 
toriring^  wiic#M^ofPutnam,^)ii|io  fei^ 
djered  nisi  hten  in  the  mod  peren^^ry  man- 
tier,  not  to  fire  untill  he  fliould  fctm;  i^am- 
I*^  giMPt  ihe  fignal  by  di{chargi%  K^  jptfec^ 


■"*,   * 


^■a 


-.       '-f^:' 


K    50    ) 


TJicy  fired.    NatKing  could  excised  the  in- 
extricable confufion  and  apparent  confternt^ 
tlon  occafioned  by  this  well  concerted  attack. 
hut,  at  h(t,  the  enemy  findings  from  the  vty^ 
frequency  (though  there  was  no  abfolute  ill- 
termiiBon)  in  the  firing,   that  the  pumber  of 
our  men  rauft  be  frnall^  rcfolved  to  land  be« 
low  and  furround  them.  Putnam,  apprehen-  • 
live  of  this  from  the  mt^trntm,  km  Lieute- 
^iiit  Robert  Durkeef,  wi|b  iwdve  men,  a- 
fcoiit  thirty  rods  down  the  ^flifc;^  i|j^ 
til  tiniie  to  repulfe  the  paiity  1m4»<#)^^ 
€0  land.    Ahother  llnall  w^ 
Lieutenant  Parfons^  was  ordered  ttDf|ecredf', 
to  prevent  any  fimilar  attempt.     In  tibe  mesur 
tli||^\:Major  Ptitnam,  kept  up  (through  the 
ii^i^night)  iii  inte^ant  and  deadly  fir«  on 
tl£^n^%bodf  oftheeneinyi  without  receive  * 
iaj|j|iniy  thing  in  return  but  lihot  vok!  of  eFeft, 
«cp>ippanitd  with  dolorous  groansj   mifera- 
Me  Ihikks  aod  difinal  favage  yells.     After 


___  nane  of  the  faraye  Dnrkee  will  occur  no 
moK  M  thele  fteets,  I  may  be  indiil^ed  in  mentioning 
hit  Muandioly :f«te.  He  iarvived  thii  wgr«  4nd  was  ab- 
pointed  aCapain  in  that  war  which  terminated  J|i  tn^. 
mcknowliKyre^ent  of  our  Independence.  In  1778^^ 
was  wwtl^M  and  taken  prifoner  by  th| Savages,  arthe 
battie,  p^^pming  on  the  Sufquehihnah, .  I)av^ 
bten  cO|d^ilM>ed  to  be  burnt*  the  Indians  kept  Jiip  ia 
(he  flanf^mthpicchforks,  until  he  expired  inthe  molt^ 
excruciiitiiiil;  torments. 


\ 


(      5«      ) 


N  .t 


f^ 


day- break  he  was  advifedthatoitepait  <iftlie 
enemy  had  efie^ed  a  landing  conVaerably  be<p 
low,  and  were  rapidly  advancing  .to  cut  off 
his  retreat.  Appnfed  of  the  sreat  fuperiori- 
ty  ftill  oppofed  to  him»  as  wen  as  of  tne  fito- 
adonofhisown  ibldien,  ibmeof  whom  wei-e 
entirdydefticute  oCaqfimifnition..  and  the  reft: 
reduG^  toone  or  two  rounds  per  inan»  fie 
conuDipded  tinnn;  to  Aritig thek  packi.  By 
Hlfh^^t^  in  good  orcfer>  they  hW, 

'^"*'|6ir  enough  up  the  creek  ixk 
pm»ff^t^^  During  this  long 

^lUinuii^f mm^^  w  which  the  Americans 

v'kiM  (lain  il  leaft  five  times  their  own  num# 
^ber>  only  one  Provincial  and  one  IndUn  were 
grounded  on  their  fide.  Th^fe  unfortunate 
men  had  been  fcnc  off  for  camg  in  the  nigbr^ 
with  two  men  to  aflift  them^  and  diredtions^ 
to  proceed  by  Wood  Creek  as  the  fafeft».. 
though  not  the  fiidrteft>. route.  But  havfaig 
taken  a  nesrer  iv»y»  they  were  pur^^.  afid 
overtaken  by  th(6  'jbidiana»  who,  from  the 
blood  on  the  leaves  and  buflies^^eiie vc»i  t\m^ 

*  they  were  on  the  trail  of  our^  wkole  party. 

'  The  woundedi  defpairing  of  mer)&f  awdlfliha- 
ble  tbdy^  infifted  that  the  well  f6l<( 
make  their  efcape,  which,  on  a  nil 
liberation,  they  effcfted.      Tlw  I 
whofe  thigh  was  broken  ty  a  \^^' 

,  approach  of  nhe  Savages  fired^^fil^^ 


•»•-•  -'^f, 


«,»    'AM 


^kr>. 


..Ml  ■  .^  ■ 


i    s^    ) 


thrive  of  liiem»  after  which  be  was 
i)^iy  hacked  in  pieces.  Thejndian,h<iw- 
eyer,  was  ftvcd  alive.  This  m?m,  Majpr. 
.Putnam  faw,  afterwards,  in  Canada;  Wfcirc 
JS;  fie  likewifc  learned  that  his  enemy  in  the  te* 
encognt^r  at  Wood  Creek  epnfifted  of  fiye 
hundred  French  and  Indiansi  under  the  ^oni* 
mand  of  the  c(iebr&ea  partizan  Molang, 
and  that  no  pany,  ibce  thjewar»  had  fugered 
fo  feverely,  as  more  tb^n  ^^  half  of  thofe 
who  went  out  ncveri:e^j|^i|i#\ 

OuK  braver  little  compi^Hi^W^ed  t<»  for* 

^  ly  in  number,  had  proceeded  atc»i|g  the  „ 

of  the  creek  ^bout  an  hour's  march,  yr 

Major  Putnam»bfjng  in  front,  was  fired  up- 

^  on  by  a  parfy  juft  at  ha^.    He,  rightly  ap- 

'^preciating  the  ad vant^  often  obtained  by 

,    afluming  a  bold  countenance  oq  a  critical  oc- 

'   caAon»  in  a  ftentorophonic  tone  ordered  his 

9ien  to  rufh  on  the  enemy  and  promifed  that 

they  ftiould  foon  give  a  good  account  pf  t^m. 

It  prpved  IP  be  a  fcout  of  Provincials,  who 

conceived  they  were  firingupon  the  French; 

but  the  Commanding  QScer,  knowing  Put- 

liam's  v0i<fe|  cried  out  **  that  they  were  all 

,  <«  ^d*^" — Upon  this  the  M<ycr  tpldhw 
#^upl^,  <<  that  friends  Or  enoiues,  ti^^ 
*^dcfcrvcd  to  be  hanged  for  not  killiiig^mi^ 
*<  w^  ih^y  bad  fo  fak  a  ihpt/*     In  '"^ 


\ 


•^v* 


■pr- 


i:^\ 


(      S3      ) 

btit  one  man  was  mortally  wounded, 
thde  thifi^  were  tranfaaed,  a  fi^cKfiil^ 
<iier|,  whole  ammunition  had  beei  early  (^* 
hluiftedy  midc  his  way  to  the  Fort  and  gavt: 
fuch  tnformationy  that  General  Lyman  wa: 
detached  with  five  hundred  men  to  cover  th< 
retreat.    M^jor  Piitn^  iftet  them  at  only 
twelve  milei^il^ce  frot^  the  Foft«  to  which 
they  retoried^;^^t  daf . 

^  Iii.A«s>i^4kf  1?^^"  Colonel'^Ua- ' 
v»i#««iiflM^ntotFort£dwardV%     , 

rraoki: t^^^%to  the  nor ch- wed  baftibn 
i^>flfc^fire.^|p»fey  extended  within  twelve  fcii 
'wlfce  Magazine,  which  contained  three  hufe 
d red  barrels  of  powder.     On  |l«  firft  difcov--  - 
cry,  the  fire  raged  wJjth  great  violence.     The 
Commandant  endeared,  in  vain,   by  dir<- 
charging  fome  pieces  of  heavy  artillery  againft" 
thefupportersof  this  ^fiight  of  barracks>;to>  le- 
vel ttem  with  the  ground.      Putnam   stmi^ 
e^om  the  Ifland  where  he  wa»"ftation<rd;  lilt 
the  moment  when  th^  1)la2i'^approached  im«t- 
end  which  was  contiguous  to  ^heMagaaune* 
Inftantly  a  vigorous  attempt  wis  made  to  ex-    * 
tinguilkthe  cohQagration.     A  way  ^^''WH^^ 
ptned  by  a  poftern  gate  to  the  river,  ^^^(ti^ 
sbtdters  wctt;  employed  in  biding  >l^^| 
which  he,  having  mounted  Oiml^       tai^ 
f  vcs  of  th^  biding,  rcrcived»|4  ifcre«^.^^.^ 


i -'*^^--  ■ 


>  •:'.j*i 


'yn\ 


C-u  .      \,V    V 


I-?''.' 


d' 


m 


(       54      ) 

le.    It  continued,  ii|>firithfta|i<K^ 

.,        io^  efforts,  to  gain  6poitn)ifi|^/  He 

ftoM^  eRvelofkied  in  faioke.  To  nearjiic^/lheee 

•ofj^c,  that  f  pair  of  thick  bJanh^r,fO||c(^t 

-^eit  burnt  e^tirc>y.  from  his  hjinds-^he/^ 

^u^plicd  with  fliiiother  pair  dipt  in  water.. 

Colonel  Haviia^d  fearbg  that  lieliroid<l  per^ 

ri& i^  thjft  JtP^e^  wed  ^  hia^^f^, cmm 


The  giaM(i 
i^edc^n  i?h 
lu^' forbade 

out  oC^h^  jp^  animatectise  iw 

^\|pdo»Wed  diligemx,  and  ^ciain(^ed,  **  i^  we 

'f^'  :nmft  be  blown  up^  we.^Mgo  tA\  together.*' 

^t  1^»  when  the  b^i^i/d^  were  fceo  to^  lie 

^tiif^^ng,  Fytn^m  ddcended^  placed  himfelf 

jlttbeinterval,  and  continued  rronn  «i  'nfictt" 

.^fiu||  rotation  c^repieniAed  bucket,  to  pour 

upon  the  S4fg2|zlne.     ilhe  om^ 

^^  ,  werealrcady  confomed  b)  t^ro^dimity 

ilv^Ci  and  as  on]y  one  thickne&^im« 

vene^he  trepidiitiQi^no#  b^iMD^  : 

^dextreme.  PutnlHfii»^Huhdi|itted^j^ 

ith  a  cloud  of  cinders  and  fti^^^ 

tyoCch^Jbeaty  maimiiiai^ 

t  the  ire  fuDiSd!^  and  the  dangppr 

mr*    Hf  had  ^onteaded  ftr  mm 


^ 


\ 


-« 


i'**^'-  ;^^^ 


'y,.:< 


^ 


(      55      ) 


ho^  Mitt  |iili|iiiM  chat  terrible  el< 
Mul^-^li jl{Ngl^  &is  arms  an<4^hi8 
weiiiPliidi.   and  when  he  jnimd  off  fifi 
&ciii^pi^^^  the  (km  from  hit  hanai 

tii^lfeigill'^  theoKr^t  was  a  month 

b|i^ie  i«i|^^^     The^ommandant,  to 

endeared  him, 
ieiTiOttoi|s  bfr!gr«titude» 

thef 


*'»*#i 


ronderogatdolf 
tromoMtl^W 
Amerka,  condi^l^ 
thf  ei^ditil^    Hts^  amy,  which  amount^ 
to3early  fifteen  thotlftnd^R^       and^io^ 
iiicialsrWM  amply  iitelrcd  with  ArtiHcry  ^ 
and  miK^  i^bres^  ^Tkis  well-appmii^ 
cor|ii;|>afled  over  Judte  George,  and  lind^  1 
with<ittoppoftiiHi,  jf  the  point  of  dIfHnife? 
ticad:     Th^^^roc^s    ad  column!^ 

Lord  Ho^i^iringM^^  Putnam  with 
was.  In  fkm t  of  the  center.    A  body  t^t 
An  Imtidred  men  (die  idvaiilibr  biclctflof 
■'    FriNch  army)%hkh  had  fled  at  fi^bf^' 
t^  (kimhiih  with  our  left.    **  Pu 
Howe,  ••  what  means  thalffrfi 
*^.  I  kmw  nbt,  but  with  your  Loidil^^  ^ 

•^  mm^^^^  ftpliod  tht  (s»0mp:0Jkm 


H 


41-' 


¥' 


■I'      -f 


'^5 


> 'fH 


t% 


(      S6      ) 


'i<. 


^^4ny  youf"  rejoined  the  grflant  youngf^ 
«,vJcinaii.     In  vain  did  Major  Piitnam  at- 
tempt to'iifluade  him  by  fayiKig— ^  Mjf 
^*  luord,  if  I  art)  killed,  the  lois  oCiny  life 
«*  will  be  of  little  jonr<^uence>  bit  thfc  pre- 
**  fcrvation  of  your's  is  of  infinite  mpomt^W 
^  to  this  army."      The  «nly  anfwei;;  Wa^, 
**  Putnami  your  life  is  ^%  dear  to  you  as  ttAtCt 
«<  k  torftci  I)|^  ckt^ij^fei^  ^o  ^."  ^^Oft€ 
fncM|^^'6f -ife-'^ani': ''    "" 
^^  MLof4   ^ 
ank  oiflteT^ 
firft  fire  Sis  Loi 
S|ind^>**adp^rtfcijliai      _ 
■4i^s  vrhk^tit  occurred   three    days  « 
wj^rds.    ,H;!K  manners  and  his  virtues,  hM 
made  Kitn  the  idol  of  the  armv.     Eronn  hti 
rft^i^rii^al  in  America,  he  had  accommoda* 
if  iimfclf  and  his  regiment  lo  the  peculiar 
.^.tUI-c  of  the  fervite.     Exemplary  to  the  offi- 
jcr,  a  friend  of  the  foldier,  the  model  of  dif-. 
elpiine,  he  had  not  failed  to  ehco|Bnter  ev^pf 
h^d^ip  and  hazard.      Nothii^  coiilfd  be 
ifttiill^ciilculated  to  infplre  men  \pnh  the  *^iifli 
ail^k^^ttbn  of  li|e,  or  to  temper  it  with  Af 
i^  Ifffeverance  ofl'eveAgei^  than  the  GgUt 


'■•)     "v  -f. 


iy-rti 


■0.  V^  Cttthis hsur  ihort andUli^tt^  the  Re^iiiiient  te 
liar  \ht  example.     He  Ut^pM  tlietr  eloacb%|  %. 
i^ivity  of  I'ervice.  and  ctWeM  hittiflf  andiiAsOi 
•'artidooffupcifluOfttbiggAgt,  r     •  - 


Jk* 


i» 


(      57      ) 


pf  iUch  a  hero,  fobeloved»*  fallen  in  hii 
1^8  ciufe.  It  had  tte  eSea.  PilMiii^ 
p^y  baytng^ut  their  way  obliqiiel|^fhr6ugh 
^il^llil^  aod  having  been  jmaed  by 

Captaifi  P'EU  muh  tw«g^y  jmen,  together 
:irii$  |pex>thtr^^^^f^  paries,  charged  them 
^ll^lipi  len^  ihat  nearly  three  hundred 
:^im  and 

an  thft  mean 

.•|pglder^;^^^fht-^ 
ff|i|^'i'|»arf;y  ^ 
thedtadoddiesu>^i 
iSditmri^  a  brtfk  .and  heavy 
tciUed  a  Serjeant  and'  fevi;^  pri' 
b^  could  they;  bylbundi;j^rfi|;|iPf  b|  cim^ 
vinced  of  their  miftake»  \imi  M^ffittmi^ 
prc^rihg  ^if  Heaven  had  jrht^ian^ned  ^ 
tiMilofsofhisown  life  to  tl»f^lofi  i>f  the  liyea 
of  his  brave  aflbciates,  ran  tli^ough  the  midft 
of  the  flying  balls  and  prevented  die4a)pexid« 
ing  cataftrophe* 


t# 


■m' 


m  tender  feelings,  which  Major J^iil:^tfi| 
taught  hinn  t9^  y^i^m^^hfcirti^ 
nii  foe  and  to  ftrive  by  eve^Jenienr  art  m 
hK  power  to  aUevtsite  the  mtwies  of  war* 
]Fbk  this  purpbfe  he  mnained  omjd]iliilditdi»^ 
M  It^lq^ahjo  grpw^diark,  eiliplbyed  tii  d^«^ 


^l,-,^^■■  -^ 


i- 


'^% 


U^SM 


fcJ^WV  ■••'.■V 


?W**«' '("■*■' 


^i^ 


,V'     V' 


a' 


,,r^vf!i 


A. 


K 


fi'^5*? 


(      i8       ) 


w^ooncpUcc;  he  gave  them  aU  the  Ug^pr 
arid  little  rcfwlhmcnts  which  he  couW.  .ftrj>- 
fcurc  I  he  furniflicd  to  each  of  them  a  blaaK- 
ets  he  put  three  blarikcts  ^under.^  F^ 
Scricant  who  wa^,badlf 'jfWMJiidcd  ih»#m#^ 
bddy>  and  placed  him  in  an  eafy  pol^f  ;W 
the  fide  of  a  trec-^he  fom  ftWo^mlm^'' 
ly  fouectc  bis  hand  with  an  cxpiyffi^t,  giftfp- 

«  Xh,-  (iia  M«<«^?#i9^» '^ 

•f  it,  my  brave  SfMStmMi^^^ 
«^itiie  the  camp  as 
«^'j^Gat«£haIlbet: 
«  Were  my  brother."  ,,^ 
ajor  Rogers  was  fent  to  reconnOiti 
H  and  fta^ring  off  the  wounded  pri, 
b#  fMiding  Ihe  wounded  unaWe  to  help 
"  >es,  in  order  to  fave  trowblc,  he  dif- 
-^.^evcry^  one  of  them  to  the  world  of 
•^piriti.  Putnam's  was  not  the  only  heart 
tharWcd :  The  Provincial  and  Britifh  Offi- 
cers who  became  acquainted  with  the  fact 
fj^  ftruckwiihincxpreffible  horror. 

.  T!'icoRDEROGA  IS  furroundcd  on  th|;ee  fides 
by  water,  on#e  fourth,  fi^  feme  difta^ 
rei^ds  a  dangerous  moi;afs,  the  rcmfinder 
%aa  then  fortified  Ivith  a  line  eight  feet  mgh 
Sa  planted  with  artillery.  >  3For  one  hui?|^ 
.iWsiin  front,  the  plaj^  V|*S^vcr^i0l^ 
'  ^reat  irtres,  cut  for  Ac  tiiiiilfe  of  '^fc^^^^- 


< 


i»l»fc-iiMertw^  arid  Iharpenrf   bwiitheC 

P*^!*!**  «S?»»"^»-     NotwhdandiBg  AM- 
inifietSiiMiits,  the  Engineer,  who  had  h«ii' 
cni^I<^iEd  ;w  reconnoitre,  reported,  as  h||V 
P"Up«»,Jh«  the  works  might  be  carried  with 
mu%|oy       The  ^difficulty  and  <feJay  of 
t^    I.    'rtftg  cannon,*      'grounds 

inductdthc  wiop^ 
litj^hj  however,  •  rii- , 

0^y  confifting  o4. 

■  llf  i*'^  the  jjojin^ 

yailants,  after  havifg  ^forS; 
than  four  hours  expofed  to  i  tooft  fatal  XT 

without  havingtnade  any  impi^ffion  mihei? 

mte«ttd  and  ob%ate  proof!  of  valorwe«  ' 

tw  V'-  ^  *'!'"  ^"ng'ng'thc  Provincial  re- 
giments fucCffflrely  to  aftion,  aflifted  in  pre, 
fervi^^tr.  It  was  6id  that  a  great  nSml 
"•^^^W!  wepy  werefliolia  th?  head,  tsepr 

?'    J'^'ofsoB6urfidevi|fetart»arArf 
two  Aoofand  killed  and  wounde^^S^-^^ 
five  hondrerf  ftands  of  anm  S^^^^^'"' 
the  French.    Our  army,  after  fiift»BaiK»«r-: 
havoc,^«treat(Sd  w^th  fuch  tttraorSrir*  % 
yt^i^  that  th*^  regained.  thlS^* ' 


If 


'.,*"i 


jjjtS-.yij*.-,,. 


die  fouthward  of  Lake  Georgf»;theeveii!iig 
after  ^he^aftion. 

I 

;Th«  fucceflcs,  in  otf-cr  parts  of ^menci^ 
made  ameods  for,this  defeat.  Lxliiili^iiig» 
after  a  vigorous  liege,  was  reduced  1^  the 
Generals  Amheril  and  Wolf;  Jkohllme,  a 
poll  of  importance  on  the  comnnmAipactaii  b^^ 

tween  Lake  Ontafi|(|i^^tbf y^^^^ 
.|tt|;r|ndered  to  Col<6jHip 
ufiiw-^efoe,;  fitiiiiMa^ 

jctf^i|^chhac|J|indlM  t 
^now  fpreadyMbogh  the  fbvir  qtitrteii  ol 
glob^  was  captured  by  GeneraljForbesv 


TXi, 


adyenturesi  in 


fa. 


v^ 


leiefts  fere  litck  concerned,  bot  which  from 
Jlir  fje^iarity  appear  worthy  of  bei^^re- 
fti^edi  liqppened  before  the  conclu0an|^0ie 
;e«%  Asoneday,  Major  Putnaoi  chiniM 
tQ;H<^  with  a  bitfteau  and  five  men^  Oil  the 
cd^^^^i4bore  of  the  Hudfbn,  n^ar  tlie  |ia{iids, 
wntiguoiis  tclprhich  Fort  Nfiller  fteodi  hrs 
innen  ontheoppofitebank  g^  him  to  tinker- 
tmi  thatf alarge  body  of SlNra^^^vi^re  i^^^ 
fetr  and  would  be  jupon  himinjifndment*'*^ 
Hollay  and  be  facrifked*^to  atiemini  ^roff* 
jugand  be  (hot— km*  togo^^nthei 
an^  akxioft  abibUite  certio^  dfleiiij 


P' 


'I  .         ..'   '  -ir    ^ 

V....,,      ,*„_      *    -•    '■ 


■i. 


X     6i     ) 

^i  were  the  fole  alternatives,  that  preftnted 
tbm&irts  to  his  choice.  So  inftantaneouf- 
ly  fras  the  latter  adopted,  that  one  man  who 
kjlli^adiUed  a  little  from  the  party,  was,  of 
p^ij^^Stff-  left,  and  fell  a  miferabJe  vidim 
^Ata||^^arbari{)r.  The^Indiads  arrived 
on  iht^pili^  fbon  enoiJ^h  to  fire  many  balls 
oit^liiblilgio  before  At  could^  to  got  under 

jm  batteau-men  efcap- 

ri^ij^  of  the  current 

pifil^cKt;  xhaa^^c^ 

a^voided  irMl^  f^ 
10  another,  not  lefs  terrible* 
latent  fhelv^  abCbrbing 
cckUf|^3uid  abrupt  defcents,  fo^  of 

alnnifey  a^>rded  fcarcdy  tlm  ftnalle(^chanc§ 
«f  elaip^l%4^  a  miracle.   ;:^lPutnj^  " 

trufttng^himfeif  to  a  good  Provideilfie  wl* 
kiii^fil  he  had  often  experienced^vra 
thiH^idmen,  whofe tendereft mcrcicftiwe jpru* 
eUyjIwps,  now  fecn  to  place  himlelf  fedatei^  at 
the  rhelm/  and  aBFord  an  aftonilhing  fpcc- 
tacfe  of  ftrenity :  His  companions,  with  a 
niiiture  of  terror,  admiratioq^  and  wondei^ 
lawWnH>  inccflantly  changing  the  courfe,  to 
«roidthejaws  of  ruin,  that  icemed  expanded 
to  fwaltew  the  whirling  boat.  Twice  fe 
^fcd  it  fairly  round  to  fliun  the  rifts  of  rocfesi 
j^ir^cHfethcfe  eddies  in  which  there  W^6^ jiie 
daiiger  of  its  fouaderifig^ .  at  0 


5. 


v..  t 


9)    ■' 


C    ««     ) 

%i^nt  the  i^dts  were  expofed  to  tbi  fwy  of  tfit 
wiM^es>  then  the  (lerny  and  next  the  bow 
glAf^cd  obli*qiiely  onwapdf^  with  incoiiceiyi>;> 
£}e  velocity.^ With  not  hk  acnazjemeAl  iiM 
S^ivagies  l9ehe)d  him  fofnetimcs  nriounti%;ait 
bslltfWSy  then  pluiigiitg  abraptVy  dii^,  At  o- 
thit  trmei  ftillfoUy  vftrkig  from  4|«'|i^ 
«ind  (hooting  throogh.the  ^ky  0mim'ptS9> 


I, 


iiMfCi  tif)tifK»  at  tflfti 
mdy  gliding  on  tmi 

tfkM  thidtrude  hmti 
wUh  the  fame  kiml  of 
ibn,  whkh  jhe  Euro^ie»ni  in 
tntti^^fved  lor  ibme  of  their  mod  yaloiwi 
champions,  llfey  deemed  tl«jii*n  jlrr^V 
netablef  whom  their  balls  (oirii^  i^uft'mg 
from  (We)  would  not  toQch  ;^  mi  wiiom 
they  )|idiem  fteenng  in  (afety  d<?^ii  tfce  ra^ 
pkis  that  had  never  before  been  paiied.  J^ 
*  conceived  it  would  be  an  affront  agsdii^  the 
Great  SpirUf  to  attempt  to  kill  ihisTattt)r€d 
mortal  with  powder  and  ball,  if  th^y^Slold 
ever  fee  and  kiiow  h^m  agahiK  -  ; 

l!f  (he  month  of  Auguft^  dve  hundred  Ritil 
l(|»;e  employed,  vttider  the  orders  of  the  Ma* 
jors^  Rogers  a<^  Fatnamy  to  watch  cli|  mo^ 
tiqiis  of  the  enemy  near  Ticonderc^^  I  At 
^  '^^  Bay  they  (eparated  tfic  party  M0  v»§^ 


# 


,  flip*"- 


1^ 


^    «3      ) 


equal  JiiTifioiiSy  aod  Rogers  took  a  pofition 

•a  Wood  Creek  twelve  miles  diftant  Iroqa 

IPataaan.     Upon  beings  Ibme  uxoe  after- 

^iR8n!l&»  diicoyeirdt  they  fi>rmed  %.  jre-uiuon 

ttui^QiEicerted  oieafures  for  «etiirmng  to  Ftart 

fiiim.    Tfaicir  ooarch  <thr.ou^  the  woouda^ 

drujfi§ns  Jf  f  itE&;  the  right  com** 

^^ers»  me  kfc  Jby  Putnam  and 

"'Oiptsin  i>*£U .    The  ^lA  ju^t 

itMnks  af€Uar  Simr^ 

fort  Anoj  wiMch  Had 

hf  General  Micholfoau 

thbon^Pn,  from  a  ipirit  of  ialie  enauHatioo* 
to  be  engaged  in  firiitig  ait  a^mark.  Kothtnjg 
cptlkib^vt^lgeh  more  repugnant  to  the  mili«- 
tary  printijp^^cf  Patnaaa  t&n  fuoh'Condjidi 
or  repn>l>at<ad  by  him  in  inoiie  poiioted  terms* 
Asifpon  as  the  .heairy  dtvr  which  had  fallen  tlie 
precesiitfig  night  would  permic,  the  detach«- 
mesitiifioifed  in  one  Jaody>  Putnam  bibing  in 
froti>t,  D*^  m  cent^  and  Ro^s  in  thei-ear* 
TI^4mperv^ous  gKOWth  of  fhlFubs  and  under* 
bnujii  t^atiiad  fprung  up,  where  the  land  had 
been  faai^ya[eais^^^M|«ears  before^  oc«< 
^a%ned  this  .change^W^^irder  of  iparoh* 
**  Attillie  moment  of  moving,  the  *faw]gU5!  ^ftm$^ 
^^<&rti«aii  Molatng,  who  had  bee^  ^ 
f  ve  .hitidfed  men  to  intercept  oii 


U 


t^ 


■■*»-. 


■<il.   T.' 


(•    64      ) 


i 


not  more  than  one  mile  and  an  half  diftant 
from  them.  Having  heard  the  firing,  he 
haded  to  lay  an  ambufcade  precif<^y  in  fhat^ 
part  of  the  wood  moft  favorable  to  his  jpro- 
jedt.  Major  Putnam  was  juft  emergi||fl;  Irpm 
the  thicket  into  the  common  forefl:,  wmii  i^e 
enemy  rofe,  and  *  with  difcord  ant  yells  an4 ' 
whoops,  commenced,  ih  attack  upon  the  ri|^'t 
of  his  diviiion.    .Surpri&d|r  but  ilhj  * 

Putnam  haUed,  retuj^ 


ice 


|he  word  for  the  pth«ri 


6.'^  >A.*^ 


for  his  fupport.  ^i>*Ell  , ,, 
ihough  wicicly  fcattercd  and[ 
l^^tween  man  and  man,  foon  grelr]i|||ieial  £id- 
fetcnfely  warm.    It  would  be  as  diUcult  as 
^^  j^elefs  to  defcribe  this  irregular  and  ferocious 
^mpde  of  fighting.      Rogers  XMC  not  up: 
bur^  as  he  declared  afterwards,  Tormed  a  cir- 
cular iile  between  our  party  and  Wood  Creek 
,  to  prcTvent  their  being  taken   in  rear  or  enfi- 
laded.    Succefsful  as  he  commonly  was,  his 
rcondudt  did  not  always  pafs  without  unfavora- 
bk  imputation.     Notwithflanding  it  was  a 
current  laying  in  the  camp^    "  that  Rogers 
**  zhivfsjfenty  but  Putnam  /^/his  men  to  ac.- 
<*  tion/*  yet,  in  JjuftWi  it  oiight  to  bc^  re^ 
j«arkcd  h^re,  thitt ^fH?  latter  has  never  been 
known,  in  relating  the  ftory  of  this  day^/dif- 
after,  t&afHx  any  ftijgma  ugon  the  condpEt  df  ^ 
the  former.  ^^    j 


(      65      ) 


4 


Iverfiir 


Major  Putnam,  Derceivine  it  would  be 
,  \inpn&iftb\c  to  cro(s  the  Creek,  determined 
10  mti^liin  hit  ground.  *  Infpired  by  his  ex- 
mple,  the  officers  and  men  behaved  with 
bravery  t  fometimes  they  fought  ag^re- 
ly  m  open' view,  and  foitietimes  indivi- 
itUy  under  cover  i  taking  aim  from  behind 
'  tracs  and  afting  in  a.  manner 
'  '   "    other^     For  himfelf,. 
^{iizee  feveral  times,  a^;^ 
"While  the  muzzle  wai^ 
^^aft  6f  II.  large  ar*d  ;we?> 
ipi*.    This  warrior ,  ava^Sl 
of  the  inde^nfible  attitut:  of  his 
wjr  with,  a  tremendous   war-^hoop* 
^rang  (orward,  with  his  lifted  hatchet,    and 
compelled  Mm  to  furrenderi  and  having  dif- 
armed  Had  bound,  him  faft  taa  tfee^,  returneidt 
to  the  battle- 

Thz.  tntfepid  Captwrn  D^EIrlnd ITamnan^ 

who  now  commanded,   wck*  forced  to  g^rc 

ground  for  ar  little  diftana^ :    the  Savage '' 

conceiving  th^to be thctcrtainharbingcr;^ 

Ti£tory,.Tuflied  imp^upufly  on,  wkh  dreadful 

and  redoubled  cries-  Jluc  our  two  partizans^; 

c^Ucsaing  a  handful:  ei  bi^^  men,  gave  the 

^ptirfjjcra-fo  warm  a  itcepVfi^"  ;a$  to  cfbl^ 

^  tbcniiia  turn,  to  retreat  a  Iklllb"  bcyo^thc^ 

^fpocat  which,  the  adion  h^  ^06§^^iif 

F  2.       :^-/^&^l^--- 


i     66      ) 


»>.» 


Here  they  made  a  (land.  This  change  of 
ground  occafioned  the*tree  to  which  Putnam 
was  tied  to  be  diredlly  between  thcfircofthe 
two  parties.  Human  imagination  cm  hard- 
ly figure  to  itfelf  a  more  deplorable  fituation; 
The  balls  flew  inc^ffantly  from  cither  =  fide, 
many  ftruck  the  tr^e,  while  fomc  .  palled 
through  the  (leeves  and  (kirts  of  h^  coiNF.  In 
this  (late  of  jeopardy,  unable  to  i^|$#  his 
body^i  to  ftir  his  limb$  oir^eveii  10  il^y^fie  his 
head>  he  remained  more  than  an  b^»  j^So 
equally  balanced  and  fo  obftiiiale  iirais,  the 
i>^tl  At  one  moment,  wbilie  tb|B  battle 
fwerved  in  favor  of  the  enemy,  a  young  Sav- 
agCjChofe  an  odd  way  of  difcovering  his  hii- 
niour.  He  found  Putnam  bound.  He 
might  have  difpatched  him  at  a  i»low.  But 
he  loved  better  to  excite  the  terrors  of  the 
prifoner,  by  hurling  a  tomahawk  athis  b6ad 
*--or  rather  it  ftiould  feem  his  object  was  to 
fee  how  near  Ke  could  throw  it  without  touch^ 
ijitt  hith — the  weapon  ftruck  in  the  tree  a 
ni^ber  of  times  at  a  hair's  breadlJb  diftance 
from  the  mark.  When  the  Indian  had  fi- 
kifhcd  his  amufcment,  a  French  Bas-Offict?f 
{a  much  more  inveterate  &vage  by  nature, 
thoug|idc{2i^hded  from  ib  humane  and  polifh- 
cd  a  Aion)  perceiving  Putnam,  canif  up  to 
him,  and,  levelling  a  fuzee  within  a  foot  iof 
lis  bread  attempted  to  difcharge  it;  it  mificd 


#" 


.-...in  ' 

..,:«t,C 


■3 


'Iv 


(     ^7     ) 


4 


fire— incffcftually  did  the  intended  vldim, 
folicit  the  treatment  due  to  his  fituation,  by 
repeatingy  that  he  was  a  prifoner  of  war. 
The  degenerate  Frenchman  did  not  under- 
ftanc^  the  lariguage  of  honor  or  of  nature: 
dieaf  to  their  voice  and  dead  to  fenfibility,  he 
ylo)|ti|ly  and  repeatedly  pufhed  the  muzzle 
'6(hl^  l^n  ^ainft  Putnam's  ribs,  and  Bnally . 
gavciift||f  a  cruel  blpV  on  the  jaw  with  the 
b^x.i^fO^^r'pe^'^-.'i^cr  this  daftardlydeed 

Atlinphim  aftive  ihtfe^ity  erf  IMilt 
and  *Harman,  feconded  by  tJie  perfevering 
valor  of  their  followers,  prevailed.  They 
drove  frpm  the  fiei^^^Mi  enemy,  who  left  a- 
bout  ninety  A^id  bchi hd  therft .  As  they  were 
retiring  ^u^atp  was  untied  by  the  Indian 
who  yi(Mnade  him  prii^NOf  r  and  whom  he  af* 
tcrwards  called  ma(fc^^^  Having^  bccrt  cort^ 
duftcd  fbr  fi||)e  dift|ig«^  from  tfic  pla^  of 
adion,  he  wb  ftrifpE^  of  his  coat,  vcft^ 
ftockings  an!||(hqie%i  ibi(^  with  as  many  of 
the  packs  of  the  ^li^^e^  cmild  be  piled 
upon  him  $  ftrohgf^  j^ion^^  «nd;^  wrifts 
tied  as  cbfi^ly  togethcr^thcy  cQ^^I:pulU 
cd  with  |a  cord^  mm%t  hii^rmk 
throii^  ||)  pleafamup*!^ 


•  Thii  wor*y  officer  h  M^^^ 
ir the  Sw»  of  MaiDKhtffeuJ^  •*    ^  ^ 


'■■>S 


'■/ ' 


11,"  .    , 


^^■ 


(       «8       ) 

manner^  for  many  a  tedious  iwik ;  iB^  |»rey'^ 
(wfio  'were  exccffively  fatigucd>  hfth«J  to 
breathe.  His  hands  were  now  imnjodtftie-; 
ly  fwelled  from  the  tightneis  of  the  hgaturc  ^ 
and  the  pain  had  become  intokrable.  .  •  Hh, 
fiet  were  fo  much  fcratched  that  rfic  blood 
dropped  M  from  them^     Exhaufted  wtthj 

-  beantig  a  bufdcn  above  his  ftrc^gtlili/  and 
fri^^k:  wiib  toitioc^ts  exqt^fHe  bt|||ifjv|fn*» 
dtiraace ;  he  entitled  tHc? :  i«^ 
toifliplore  asthe  l«fl:^i 
:i8d*ir  *fe  Savages,  thait^ 
_. ,  /W'xte^-heii^iittd  take  IWKaJp  ^  ^^^ 
or  loofe  his  hands.  A  French  o^cer,  «i- 
llaiitly  ifltcrpoiicigi  ofderai  hislutids  to  be- 
ttnWtmd  and  fome  of  thil^kai  to  be  taken 
off.  BifMh  time  the  Indiaa.  h*g»  captured 
him  tttdhad  been  ato|ftt  with,  the  wounded^ 
cmi^g  upi^gi^re  y«^ra  ^tir  of  Mocafons  tn^fi 
t^r^fitd  g^  indigna^ofl  at  the  uaworcb|K 

,  licatmem  his  prifotier  had  (uINbcU 

*■'  -I  '  * ' 

That  Sasrs^  Chirf ^n  w«!^n«^  ^  the 
^a6«  of  th^woun^^  l^1**;W  ihovic 

twobuiM^  mnombe^  went  before  the  reft 
df  the  part^  to  the  plaseii^Mrthe  whole  were, 
.thamirfit,  toencamp.  They  tooJcwith  them 
M«or  Putnam,  on  lAom  (bcfrfe*  ffcumera-. 
hit  oth^  outrages)  tht  y  had  the4»u;barttj(  to 
iM&  a  deep  wound  widi  a  comaliawj|3^  'in  the 


o  ■  > 


'..si 


'S"' 


(   69   ) 


lejfc  cheek.  His  fufFerings  were  in  this  place 
CO  be  caiifummated.  A  fccne  of  horror,  in- 
finitely greater  than  had  ever  met  his  eyes  be-* 
fore,  Was  now  preparing.  It  was  determined 
to  roaft  Ktoiilive. — For  this  purpofe  they  led 
him  into  jBiri^ark  foreft,  dripped  him  naked, 
bound  hUci  to  a  tree  and  piled  dry  bruih  with 
other  fuel,  at  a  fmaU  diftance,  in  a  circle 
roiind  hinri.  They  accoinpaiiied  their  labors, 
4ll^^|ti»iuQei«^dirg^  with  (creams  and 
i5s<ii||bi|i^^  favage  -voices. 

TWt^hi^jS;^^  A  fuddcn 

l(^#er  damp^       rifing  flame.  •    Still  they 
ftrbve  to  kiadle  it,  until,  at  kft,  tKe  bls^ae  ran 
fiercely  round  the  circle.      Major  Putnam 
foon  began  to  feel  the  fcdrching  he^t.      His 
hands  were  fo  tied  that  he  could  moy^,  his  bo- 
^y.     He  often  (hiftj^d  fides  as  tlie  fire  ap- 
proached.   This  fight,  at  the  very  idea  of 
which  all  but  Savages  muA  fhudder,  afFonded 
the  highefi:  diverfion  to  his  inhuman  tormer^-* 
ors,  who  dciRonftrated  the  delirium  ^  the|f- 
joy  by  cont^nSent  ycHs,  dances  and  gellf-^ 
culations.  #Pe  few  d^rly  that  his  final  hdur 
was  inevitably  cOfnc.    He  fiimmoned  all  hts. 
refolutioh  and  comp0fedhis  mind,  as  far  as 
the  circdrriftance&  muld  admit,   to  bid  an  e- 
ternal  fafeweil  to  s^ll  he  held  mod  dean     To  , 
quit  theilorld  would  (carceiy  have  cbd^^f.  l 
^v  paiig|tnit  for  the  idea  of  home,  butsiortbc  ^ 


■</■■ 


;-  '  ■:  ■"-  ^  .■» 


'^1 


P.ii 


-  w*^'  "^^^ 


(      7<s>      ) 


'f- 


M 


i«membrance  of doineflic  endearments,  of  tite 
aficdioraate  partner  of  his  ^Gxj\,  and  of.  tfieir 
bek>v<ed  o^spring.  His  thougbt  wa$  laSftfi^- 
macely  fixed  oii  a  happier  ftate  of  exiHence^ 
beyortd  che  tortutes  hie  was  begtnnifig  to  en- 
d tMHT.  The  bi tternefs  of  death ,  even  ,of  that 
death  «^ich  »s  accompanied  wich  the  keeneli: 
agonies>WA&,  iii4i4iiiabner,pa(ik— ^natupei  mhik 
a  f^bk  i%rQggfCi  'w^  quitting  its  ]iA 
bold  on  fablURafry  d»ingsr«-*ii(riieii  a  i^reneh 
fi^er  rulhed  thimigh  <hep^c^^  4 

iJiM^by  fcatteriftg>the  biin^^lfrands^  and  ma-- 
feb«ini^  vi^im;  It  ^was  Motang  hAvt^Afm^ 
ii^lifSbmM^Sstyiigty  xmmWleg  to  ^e  ano^er 
h^man  faciillce  immolated,  ^d  run  and  com- 
municated the  ridings.  That  Commandant 
j|)umed  and  feverely  reprimanded  the  barba- 
mns,  ^y^afe  nodiiurnal  Fo^wa«  and  heUifi^ 
'Orgies  he  fuddenly  ended.  Putnam  did  not 
^pt  lar  ftcliiig  or  gratitude.  The  French 
^mmander>  ^arin^  to  tnift  him  alone  with 
li^mi  ^mained  ^ntil  he  could  ^iver  him  in 
'^11^  into  the  hand^  of  h4s  mafkr. 


-»-..    ■♦ 


*     3 


'  T«B  Savage  appti^acbedWs^jwifeBerk^ 
.;  hf  mA  itemed  to  treat  him  wkb^p^ 
;^ilfe£^n.     He  offered  hinifomehaid  hircuit, 
ifl«lt  6adii%that  he  could  i»t  chew  #iemj  on 
ac^Dum ofthe  blow  he  h^  i^Geivedirotii  titc 
Fi^achmain^  this  ^W^bpii^e  Savage  1^^ 


-4i 


-  m 


&fm  of rk^  bifciik  inwutcr  and  made  him 

flick  the  pulp^lrkc  part.     Determined,  how* 

cw,i»ttobfchit  captive  (the  rcfVcflimew: 

bciMj^fiailhed)   he  took  the  mocalbns  from 

his  feet  and  tied  tbem  to  one  of  his  wri^s^: 

then  direairtg  him  to  He  down  on  kts  back 

ufson  the  bare  gtoimd,  he  ftretchcd  one  arm 

tOK*  foil  lengthy  and  bound  i|  faft  to  a  young 

trte  i  the  otber  arm,  was  extended  and  bound 

ill  the  fame  maimer-^is  legs  were  ftretched 

^P^r^a^eMM^^      tWQ  iSplings.     Then 

|nwfeeprfttBi  butflend«r^pol«^  were  c^ 

dojn  I  wfach,.with  feme  %«rA«^^iifc 

laid  acrofskis  body  from  h^^^^-^^? 

«?di  fide  lav  as  n^y  iUy^^^M  c6t>ld  convX 

niently  find  lodging,  in  ordrr  to  prevtm  the 

poffibihty  ofliijeftapc.    ^  thji  dijfagreeablf 

and  painfiil  p9j[l4ire  he  «rmincd  until  morn- 

*^Si^  ^^'"«  *%  ^*'  «h^  loogeft  r  * 
^^^twftontfiwm^mr  \km  ufed  to 
^te  that  h^^^oishmt^Amk  come 
i«alljr  acrofs  his  mind,  and  could  not  < 
refrain  fronn  fmiling,  when  he  refcded  o|™p 
ludicrous  giwpeM^  of^hkh'h* 

inn^ell  w#|  the  princy»l  figure. 


'•^r 


.    The  xkxi  day  he  w^  a^bwed 
tqd  mocafons,  and  pirmittcd  to  mag*  widi- 
m  carrying  anrpacky  or  iTceivin^^  1^  in- 
mu    Toailayhjscattranc  toi^e^,  ii 


:  ■        '■  (    71   )■    ■ 

bear's  meat  was  given>  which  he  fueled 
through*^hts  teeth,  i^t  nighty  the  part^  ar- 
rived at  TiconderogaAand  the  prifonir  was 
placed  under  the  care  of  a  French  guard. 
The  Savages,  who  had  bjeen  prevented  from 
glinting  their  diab6iical  third  for  bloody  took 
every  6]5pKirtunity  of  manifefting  their  male* 
vbtence  for  the  difappointmenr,  by  horrid 
griniaces  and  angry  gciilmss  |||{#|€y^w^ 
iuffisred  no  more  to  o^irg;^^^ 
indignity  to- him.     ''     'WX0'^r-0§ 

'  ^^i<^^ieen>«amiqedi^^^^ 
cpside  ipntcwlp.  Major  Putnam  was  coh^ 
lm#ed  to  Moritriiil  by  a  F^^       ofE^fi  who 
fi^atted,hitti  with  the  gr^a^  '  attd 

■■-■*#'-^*  ■    -^    ■   y  \' :■<'■'•'■' '  ■•      ■■■:■'■'■:■!..        ■.;■■■■■;■•..    ■ 

'  '  ■  ^  .    '  ■  ■A"'     ,  ■ 

At  this  place  wferefeveralpriibfse^ 
^fcincl  l^titer  Schiiyl%  l^arkable^^f^^^ 
I4nthi?^y,  generpfity  and  frieri^lHlp^  was  of 
the  1^  No  (boner  had  he  hjwird  of  Ma- 

jor Pllhkrn^s  arrival;  than  he  Mrent  to  the  In- 
t^ijof^tef  s  quansers^d  enqiiiw^  Whc:thei^  he 
^Iliqa'Provincid  Msydrfh^^M^ 
fbuDid  Major  Putnam  in^  a  comff^^{s  cbhdi- 
tioa--?*withciut  co^it,  waiftcbaf  #  hijfe---the 
remnant  i^fhityGbihing^iierably^^^^^^^  %d 
iagged--^r  ti&ard  lohf  ^d  icjualid<^mai,Iegs 
torn  by  A^s  and  bf|«r$-:^ir  fice  gafecd 

■       -  ■■?';     ■■  '"*■"  ■•■■     ■.■.."■■  ■'*'^       ■  ■■■^    .  ■  ■     .■      T^  V. 


'i^f'* 


...:^^- 


(      73      ) 

widilloDndSi  9£mI  fwoUen  with  bruiles.  Co* 
liMiet  Schvyler>  irritated  beyond  all  fufiTerance 
at  filch  a  fight)  could  fcarcely  reftrain  his 
Ipce^Ii  within  limits,  confident  with  the  pru-> 
iKa^eof  a  ^H-ironei"  and  the  meeknefs  of  a 
x^cbr^lan.  Major  Putnam  was  immediately 
OVited  according  in  his  ^ank,  cloathed*  in  a 
de^oic  maiui^i^iuid  fuppiied  with  money  by 
dm  liberal  and^vfyisptthetic  patron  of  the 


m 


of  FrontcjRac  by  General 
brded  occafio^i^l^  an^c^^iige 
of  prifoneri.  Colonel  Schuyler^ris  connpre* 
heildediiithecartd.  ^  generous fpirit  can 
|i£T^r  be  fitti^fifd  with  impoflng  talks  for  its 
^aerofity  to  accompliih.  Apprehenfivej  if 
it  %ou1d  be  known  that  Putnam  was  adiftiip^ ' 
giijEthed  partizan>  his  nberaition  might  be  re* 
sanded,  ar^d  knowin£^at there  were  officers^, 
who;^  ftomilve  Ic^tWof  their  c^tivity,  ha4 
4  clajip^  of  priority  to  exchange ;  htM^p^ 
his  happy  addrefs,  induced  the  Goi^nbr  to 
llffistr,  tnat  whatever  officer  he  ^^bt  thi/ik 
fi^i}ertonomi|)ate>#iould  be  included  in  the 
(^^^^  <^el.  With  great  politenefe  itfi 
0]uiiii)c49i^  Ar^g^n^  indificrencc  as  t^^b- 
Je^  j^^prcfied  his  wargrieft  ackiioWledge- 
jmfii%Cp  the  Governor  and  ip^^      *^hetci  is 


*^  ¥.-l^**V 


■^: 


ijfV 


•;y 
"•■''}?* 


-^:,:^ 


"la 


'4 '*•'-"■ 


'W 


?4^ 


m. 


(      74      ) 

*      >■'  ■'■"*.■.  -^    ' 

•*  jor  and  wilhes  to  be  atftpmc  with  bf&i^ire 
**  and  children.  He  can  do  no  gO04b(ll^ej, 
"  or  any  where*«lfc :  I  believe  your 'E^'crd- 
«*  Icncy  had  better  keep  fome  of  the.  y^ 
'*  men,  who  havejio  wife  or  children  tdsi 
^^  for,  and  let  the  old  fellow  go  hom« 
"  me."  ThisjuftifiaWc  firtc;ff<;hRu  the 
Jircd  effe£b. 

At  the  houfc  of  ^ol^^nf^  |f^i 

Putnam  becanneaci^uaihi^fiFi 

a  fa^r  captive,  iiAdfe  hiftory  wi 

iK^i%0ut  ^i|i<it|ii  if  it  could  be  writi 

farrte  afFe^iAg  manner,  in  which  I  have  oj 

heard  it  told.     She  was  ftill  young  and  halrjd- 

fomc  hcrf<jl4*lh<^ugh|he  had  two  daughieri;  of 

^  marriageable  age.    Diftrefs,  which  had  tak- 

€11  fomeWhat  from  the  oHginal  redundancy  of 

^  lier  bloom  an0  added  a  foftening  paltnela  to 

^^et  checks,  rendered  \i^.  appearance  the  n^rc 

chgaging.     Her  face,   that  fec«jld  to  have 

i)icn  formed  for,  the  affeniblage  of  diniples 

and  iiniles,  was  clouded    with  caret     The 

^attiral  fweetnefs  was  not,  however,   fourfd 

|i^  dcfpondency  and  pctv^anee' j  but  chaftefc- 

^  by  huniility  and  refigiiation^  ^iP^  rnjI^iM 

da%hter  of  forrQuy  looked4s  if  fh^i^Jiipirn, 

the  day  of  profperity,  whea  fercnity 

'  tijrfs  of  fei  were  tiie  inn^tes  of  her 

That  day  was  poft,  and  tli%onct  liyi 


^^**. 


."-,n 


r- 


'*# 


•% 


'  (      75      ) 

ttirts  jppw  aflTumed  a  tender  melancholy,  which 
witnlifed  her  irreparable  lofs.  She  needed 
i)i^  tlie  ciiftomary  weeds«of  mojurfting  or  the 
fi^iiicioiis  pageantry  of  woe.  to  prove  her  wi- 
"Ipld  ftate.  She  was  in  that  (lage  of  afHlc- 
i^n,  when  the  excefs  is  fo  far  abated  as  to  per- 
if  the  fubjed):  to  be  drawa  into  coiviM»:ratio^  / 
Ij^ut  q^peAU^I  the  ^i|C|iiiid  afrelh;  It  is  th«/ 
'  ^fedrf^fof  plcafurcthan  pain  to  dwell 
Li  Liii^-*-ift-yj|^' jj^  narration.  *  Every 

iplke  her  dory  interefting. 

b^en  killed  and  fcalped: 

yeart^efbrc.  ^  B^  a%^n^ 

happened  to  Wjrt^nt^M& 
Mr<  H'dpire  her  fecond  hufband,  the  S#vages 
calrri^d  (he  Forts  murdered  4iegreatei^art 
of  the  garrifon,  mangled  i^death  hernuf-* 
band  and  fed  her  away  wim  feven  chi«drm 
into  captivity.  She  was  ioivii^me  months 
kept  with  them :  and^  during  ^jr  ranribl^ 
Ihe  w£^  ff^uently  on  the  poinPM  pcrif^cg 
with  huipigery  and  as  often  fubjeded  toJ^ltd- 
ihips  feemingly  intolerable  to  one  of  f4^H-:  4 
4:ate  a  frame.  Some  time  after  the  carec^.^iif 
her  niiferies  beg|n^  the  Indians  fekSe!^i^a 
i^uple  of  their  young  men  to  marry  h^r 

ris.     Tfee  fright  and  difguft  which  _. 

nee  of  this  intention  occa(ione#>i^ 

poor  young  creatures  addeii  infil^y 


••>.'« 


■*.■■'■■]. 


f 


(      7«.    ) 


^, 


;*<"■ 


to  the  forrows  and  perpl^itics^of  thdr  frail- 
tic  nnfother,  Tojprevent  the  hated  cornieduon 
all  the  activity  oL  female  refourcf  wai  eallcd 
into  exertion.  She  found  anoppoitpnity  of 
conveying  to  the  Otlrernqr  a  Petition  tlut 
her  daughters  might  be  received  into*  a  dra- 
vent  for  the  fake  offecuHng^the  falvatipn  nf 
*their  fouls.  Happily  the  pious  frauiS  fuC- 
cecded^ 

About  the  fame  fjne^lte 

cd  and  carried  off  hir  6^t 

jdiflbrent  tribei.    She  was  rani 

,0er  for  four  hui^i 
the  eries  of  this  tender  mo* 
defolited  by  At  lofs  of  her 
r^  Ik^s  torn  from  her  fond 
, ^  oved  tnany  hundred  miles 

Item  each  dther,  into  the  utmoirrcceffcs  0f 

Canada,    ^|th  them  (could  they  have  been 


Ofnaavilte 

Acr%*-a  to6t|^ 
cNlpreji)  wKq^ 
eniibraces  and 


togetlUr;  (h#  would  mod  widihgly  have 
tired  to  the  extremities  of  ilH  worW,  and 
>ted  £S  a  defirable  portion  the  cruel  lot 
rery  for  life.  But  Ihe  was  precluded 
tht  fweet  hope  of  ever  beholding  them 
The  infufferablejpaftg  of  parting  and 
the  idea  of  eternal  feparation  jplafit^  the  ar- 
rows of  defpair  deep  in  hef  loul.  Thoi^gh 
all  the  world  was  no  better  than  »?^efi^i  a^ 
ait  its  inhabitants  were  then  indifit!  eiu  toijier. 


V 


(      77     J  - 

*— yet  the  lovclincfs  of  her  appearance  in  fop- 
tm/  had  a'wakened  affedlions^  which>  in  the 
stggr^avatio^  of  her  troubles,  were  to  become 
a  new  (puree  of  afHldbons^  ' 

/^*  The  officer,  who  bought  her  of  the  In- 
#dia^>  had  a  fop  who  alfo  held  a  commillion 
juic^eHded  with  his  father,  during  her  corv- 
|inuaii|e  iii  th<  faaie  houfe,  at  St.  John's>^  the 
licH^lli^Mpi^iili^  father  and  the  fbn 

^^Qil^p^l^&IWibn  extrernely  diflrefllng.- 
#^i|#jLie^^  of  age  delighted  to 

ili^^tlmiily  oil  her  bcauty>  but  the  iin- 
^  p^^fityof  youth  was  fir#||t^  madnefk^l^ 
the  fight  of  her  charms.  One 'day  the  ion,, 
whofe  attentions  had  been  long  lavilhed  up- 
on Iwr  in  vaini  inding^  her  alone  in  a  cham- 
ber, forcibly  feized  her  b||d  an^d  folennoly 
declared  that  he  would  now  faijace  the  paiUqn 
which 'ihe  had  fo  long  refuTdtcp  indulge. 
She  recurred  to  intpeaties^ ftruM|^S  and  ^0rsy 
thole  prevalent  female  weapor?^^  wlikk^Be 
didrai^ion  of  dangepnot  lefs  than  the  P jjpp- 
nefs  of  genius  is  wpnt  to  fupply  :  wjh^liei 
in  the  delii-iujTi  of  vexation  and  derirc^fnatch- 
ed  a  dagger  and  fworehe  would  put  an  end 
to  herUfciflhe  perfifte4|oftruggk.  Mrs^ 
Howe,,  aflbmingthe  dignitv  of  confciopS' 
virtue^  told  him  it  was  what^be^;lJnofi:  ardent- 
ly wilkedi/and.  begged  him  to ^ jluiig^  ^ 


sS***  . 


•Is*. 


.*'  * 


(      7»      ) 

poignard  through  her  heart,  (ince  the  motwil 
importunities  and  jealoufies  of  fuch  rivals  \^ 
rendered  her  life,  though  innocent,  more  irk- 
fome  and  infupportable  than  death  itfetf. 
Struck  with  a  momentary  compundtion>  he 
feemed  to  relent  and  to  relax  his  hokl— -and 
(he,  availing  herfelf  of  his  irrefolution  or  *b^ 
fence  of  mi nd»  efcaped  down  the  (lairs.  In 
her  difordered  (late,  (he  tokl  the  whole  tnmf- 
a6lion  to  his  father :  ivho  4ke^t^  her  In  fu- 
ture to  fleep  in  a  fmaU  bed  ifttbe  foot  of  that 
in  which  his  wife  lodged^  The  affair  fblMi 
reached  the  Governor's  ears,  and  the  r]imng 
6&€tr  waSjdKSVtIy  afterwards,  fent  on  a  tour 
pf  duty  ioBfiroff. 

IIS  gavehqjj  (hort  refpite  -,  hut  (he  dread- 
^s  return  ai#  the  humiliating  infults  for 
"Which (he  mig^t  be  referred.  Her  children, 
too,  were  fver  prefcnt  to  her  melancholy 
mind.  A|||angep^  a  widow,  a  captive,  (he 
kijgw  not  where  to'  apf^y  for  rel  ief .  She  htfd 
fanp  of  the  name  of  Schuyler — (he  was  yet 
to  Mm  that  it  was  only  another  appellation 
for  the  friend  of  fuli^ring  humility.  As  that 
excellent  man  was  on  ins  way  fi'Om  Q«ebfc 
to  the  Jerfeys,  under  a  parole  for  a  limited 
thne,  (he  came  wkh  fetble  ftifd  trd[£pi% 
fteps  to  him.  The  fame  ma^ern^  fi|||p|3, 
which,  fometimesj  overcomes  thtt^tinnid^6f 


i 


* 

(      79      ) 

fitmre  in  the  birds  when  plundered  of  their 
c4k>w  neftlings,  emboldened  her,  notwith- 
ftancUngher  native  difHdence,  to  difclofe  thofe 
griefr  which  were  ready  to  devour  her  in  fi- 
kncf»  While  her  delicate  afpedt  was  height- 
ened to  a  glowing  bluJb,  for  fear  of  offending 
hy  an  irtexcufeable  importunity^  or  of  tranl^ 
prelTing  the  ruka  of  propriety  by  reprefent- 
um  henelf  as  bring  an.  objedi:  of  admiration  s 
M  told,  wl^  iiitefs  funplicicy,  all  the  (lory 
of  her  w<»esi^  Colonel  Schuyler  from  the  mo- 
ment beottue  her  protedor  and  endeavored 
lio  pmeuft^r  liberty.  Thefferfon  whopjir- . 
chafed  her  from  the  Sai^^gfit  uiiwiltinjy^ ; 
part  with  (6  fair  a  purchaie,^i||illctod  a  thou- 
land  livres  as  her  ranfom.  Bjut  Colonel 
Schuyler,  on  his  return  to  C^ebec,  obf^iied 
from  the  Governor  an  ordi^  in  confeqiience 
of  which  Mrs.  Howe  was  given  up  to  him  for 
four  hwidred  livres— Nor  did  his  adivc 
goodnefs  reft,  until  every  one  o|bcr  ftve  fons 
was  rcftored  to  her. 


^ifj-, 


BcsiNSss  having  made  it  nece^ry  ^hat 
Colonel  Schmykr  Ihould  precede  the  prifon- 
crs  who  were  exchanged,  he  recommended 
Ihe  fair  captive  to  the  protedtion^jpl' his  friend 
Putnam*  She  had  }iift  recovered  from  the 
mearfes  when  the  party  ^fsjprej^ng^^^t^^  kt 
off  %,  Nc«:^England, , :^j|3r;^|i^ttn[i|5  tfee 


,.#e, 


iP^r- 


(       «o      ) 


young  French  officer  had  returned,  with  tm 
paflion  rather  encrcafcd  than  abatediby  ab- 
fence.      He   purfued  her   wherefoevef    fhe 
"wentj  and,  alihoDgh  he  could  inake  no  ad- 
vances in  her  afFeftion,  he  fecmcd  refolyedi>y 
perfcverancc  to  carry  his  point.     Mrs*  How 
terrified  by  his  treatment  was  obliged  to  keep 
conftantly  near  Major  Putnano,  who  inform-- 
ed  the  young  officer  thatf  he  ftouW  pro|ed 
that  lady  at  the  rilxjue  of  his  Iife|^  Howftfct^r^ 
this  amorous  and  rafli  lover,  mwhofc  boiling 
veins  fuch  an  agitation  was  excited^  that  white 
he  was   fpeakin^  of  her  the  *  blood  wpukl 
frequently  gplhir^hi  his  noftrilsi  fbilowed 
the  prifbfiers#  Lake  ChamplainV  and  when 
the  boat  iH  which  the  fair  captive  was  embark-- 
ed  hud  pufhed  from  the  fhore,  he  jumped  in- 
to the  Lake  and  fwam  after  her  until  it  row- 
ed our  of  fight.     Whether  he  perifhed  in  tliis 
diftradted  ftate  of  miad  or  returned  tO'  the 
fliore  is  not  known. 


\ 


Is.  tkelong  march  from  captivity,  through* 
Sin  inhofpuable  wildernefs,  enciimbercd  with 
five  fmall  children,  fhe  fuffercd  incredible 
hardffiips.     Though  endowed  with'  mafcu- 

*  This  phyTical  effeft,  wonderful  as  it  may  appear* 
ts  fo'far  from  being  a  fiditipus  cmbelljihinent,  thatitcnik 
be  pcavjcid  by  the  moti  folemn  teiliinony  of  more  than 
ewe  p«rlpn.6ill  livhig.  ^ 


r^  iiiiiidli^iiiVii"r^r 


^mttml 


(   «I    ) 

lid«  fottitude,  (He  was  truly  feminine  in 
ftrength  and  mud  have  fainted  by  the  way, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  afllftance  of  Major 
PutniuY).  There  were  a  thoufand  good  ofH- 
eel  Which  the  helpleffnefs  of  her  condition  de- 
manded and  which  the  gentlenefs  of  his  na- 
tjiire  delighted  to  perform.  He  aflifted  in 
leading  her  little  ones  and  in  carrying  themo- 
verthe  fwanqpy  ^unds  and  runs  of  waterj 
^lilh  which||jpieil'  qour&  was  frequently  in- 
icricfted.  ?  fl#^ix«  his  own  me(s   with 

iiil^  ofthc  i<^^^  ai^^  fatherlefs,  and  af- 
(^Ml||p^#}  iupplying  and  preoaring  their 
vproi^fioiift  Upon  arriving,  within  the;  |^ 
tkments  they  experienced  i^^^itkkl  regret 
at  ieparatioh,  and  were  only  conftled  by  the 
expectation  of  fbon  mingling  in  the  embraces 
of  their  former  acquaintances  and  dearefl:  con- 
oedio^s, 

After  the  conqueft  of  4Cai\ada  in  1760^ 
0ie  made  a  journey  to  Quebec  in  order  to 
briirg  back  her  two  daughters  whom  ihe  had 
left  in  a  convent.  She  found  one  of  them 
married  to  a  French  officer.  The  other, 
having  contra <^d  a  great  fondnefs  for  the 
rcligbus  fifterhood,  with  reludance  confen*- 
cd  to  leave  tfeem  and  return. 

A  FEW  ye^rs  previous  to  the  war  bctweeit;? 


(         82        ) 

Great  Britain  and  America,  a  ^ueftion  of 
fome  confequence  arofe  refpeding  the  title  of 
the  lands  in  Hinfdale  (the  town  in  Which 
Mrs.  Howe  refided)  inlomuch  that  itjfras 
deemed  expedient,  that  an  Agent  fhotdd*:  be 
fcnt  to  England  to  advocate  the  claim  of  the 
town.  It  may  be  mentioned  as  a  proof  of  the 
acknowledged  fuperiority  of  the  underftand- 
ing  and  addrefs  of  this  gentlcwoinan,  thatflie 
was  univerfally  delignated  fcJr  the  mi#>n. 
But  the  difpiite  was  fortunately  aceotpnaoda- 
ted  to  the  iatisfa£tion  of  the  people,  withtidt  , 
^eif  being  obliged  to  make  ul(ii#her  talents.  \ 


Wt^i^jiriiye  at  the  period,  when  the 
provvcfs  5B]Britain,  vidlorious,  alike  by  fea 
fffli  by  land,  in  the  new  and  in  the  old  world, 
l^ad  elevated  that  name  to  the  zenith  of  na- 
tional glory.  The  conqueft  of  Quebec,  o- 
pened  the  way  for  the  total  redudioo  of  Can- 
ada. On  tj^e  fide  of  the'Lakes,  Amherft 
havii^z  captured  the  i>ofts  of  Ticondcroga 
and  Crowi^  Point,  applied  himfelf to  ftrength- 
en  the  latter.  Putnam,  who  had  been  raifed 
to  the  rank  of  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  pr«- 
ftnt  at  thefe  operations,  \wi^  employed  the 
remainder  of  this  and  fome  p%t  dfthe  fuc- 
ceeding  feafon  in  fupefintending  the  partte's, 
which  were  detached  to  procure  timber  4nd 
%ther  matcrii^ls  for  the  fortification. 


i''* 


(    83    ) 

In   1760  General  Amherft,  a  fagacious, 
humaine  and  experienced  commander,  planned 
thetemiination  of  the  war  in  Canada,   by  a 
blo^dlefs  conqueft.     For  this  purpofe,  three 
armies  were  dell ined  to  co-operate  by  different 
routes  againft  Montreal,    the  only  remaining 
place  of  ftrength   the  enemy  held  in  that 
country.     The  CcNtps  formerly  commanded 
by^encral  Wdlf,  now  by  General  Murray, 
was  brd<rred  taafeend  the  river  St.  Lawrence; 
a^|her  (undei*  Col.  Haviland)  to  penetrate 
by  thein^r^lux  Noixi  and  the  third,  confuting 
of  about  ten  thoufand  men,  command^id  t^ 
:  the  General  himfelf,  after  pafHtig  wgthe  Mo- 
hawk river  and  takiifg  its  coUrfejK  the  lake 
Ontario,  was  to  form  a  junftipn^y  falling- 
down  the   St.  Lawrence.     In  this  progrefs^ 
more  than   one  occafion  prefcrnted  itfeif  to 
manifeft  the   intrepidity   and  fbldierfhip  of 
Lieutenant  Coiojacl  Puttr^an.     Twc?  armed 
veflcls  obftrufted  the  pafTigc  and   prevented 
the  attack  on  Ofwegatchie.     Putnau^  with 
1000    men,    in    50  batveaux,     undertook 
tp  board  them.     This  daunticfs  officer,  ever 
fparingj^f  the  blood  of  others,  as  prodigal  of  his 
own,  toaccomplilli  it  with  the  lefs   lofs^  ^€ 
himfelf  (with  a  chofen  cre\v,  a  beetle  and 
vedges)  in  the  van.  with  a  defigrim  wedj^ 
the  rudders,  lb  that  the  veflch  ihouft  ^»^^  b^ 
able  to  turn  their  broadSdea^r  ^f^jt^^^ 


-A     i 


^■4-1 


n 


#,v-^>- 


f      «4       ) 


^^fri 


ii^-- 


Other  manosuvre.    All  the  men  in  hU  little 
fleet  were  ordered  to  ftrip  to  their  waifteoats 
and  advance  at  the  fatne  time.     He  j^i:omi- 
fed,  if  he  lived,  to  join  and  fhew  themchf  WAf 
up  the  (ides.     Animated  by  fo  daring  an  ex- 
ample>  they  moved  fwiftly,  in  profound  ftE** 
ncfs,   as  to  certain  Vi6l:ory  or  death.^  Tfe^ 
people  on   board  the  ihipSi  beholdii^g:  the . 
good  countenance  with  which  they  apprpiiii- 
ed,  ran  one  of  the  velTels  on(Horp  in^ 
the  colours  of  the  (^her.     Had  If  i^  beilfl^ 
£br  the  daftardljr  condudt  of  the  fl^^  eon^anf 
^llfthe  lacter,^  wh(it^^^  the  llapl^tp  to 

haul  doii^^ii  ehfign,  he  would  have  given 
t^e  aj(lai]:3i|^  bloody  reception.  For  the 
feflfels  WCRplell  provided  with  fpears,  net« 
tings  and  ei  ery  cuftomary  inftrument  of  an^ 
noyance  as  well  as  defence. 

It  now  remained  to  attack  the  fortrels, 
which  ftood  on  an  I  (land  and  (eemed  to  have 
been  rendered  inacceJBble  by  an  high  abbat* 
tis  of  biack-a(h,  that  every  where  projeded 
i^¥tt  the  water.  Lieurer^nt  Colonel  Put- 
natn  propofed  a  mode  of  attack  and  OfflTered 
kislervkes  to  carry  itintoeffedt.  v^c  Gen- 
tM  approved  the  propofal.  Our  part usaii, 
accordingly/  caufed  a  fu^ient  number  of 
boats  to  be  fitted  for  the  enterprize..  i^f  he 
fides  of  each  boat  were  furrounded  wldi  fafi' 


C     «J     ) 

cines  (mwfquct  proof)  which  covered  the 
men  campkacly.  A  wide  plank,  twenty  feet 
in  length)  was.  then  fitted  to  every  boat  in 
fuch  manner,  by  having  an  angular  piece  fa^r* 
cd  from  one  exirennity,  that  when  fattened  by 
ropes  on  both  fides  of  the  bow,  it  might  be 
raifed  pr  lowered  at  pleafure.  The  dcfign 
was  that  the  plank  fhouid  be  held  ered,  while 
thdOjirfiTiep  forced  the  bow  with  their  utniofl: 
exertion  againft  the  abatis ;  and  that^  af- 
terWarill^  being  dropped  on  the  pointed 
brulh^  1t  flliaiila  ferve  as  a  kind  pf  bridge  to 
afllft  the  oien  in  palling  oyer  them.  Lieute- 
nant Col.  Putnam,  having  ma  " 
tions  to  attempt  the  efcalade  in 
at  the  fame  moment,  advanced  ^. 
in  admirable  order.  The  garrifon,  perceiv- 
ing thcfe  extraordinary  and  unexpcfbed  ma-< 
chines,  waited  not  the  affault,  but  capitulated. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Putnam  was  paEjfeicularly 
honored  by  General  Amherft,  for  his  ingenu- 
ity in  this  invention,  and  proiTiptitude  in  its 
execution.  The  three  armies  arrived  at 
Montreal,  within  two^ys  of  each  other;  and 
the  conq<ue{l  of  Canada  became  compleat, 
without  the  lofs  of  a  lingle  drop  of  t^ood; 

At  no  great  diftance  from  Montreal  ftandt 
ifee  Savage  village,  Icalled  Cochnawaga. 
Here  our  partizm  found  the  Indian  Chitf, 

H 


dif|X)!!- 

y  places 

his  boats 


%% 


,*^ 


(      W      ) 

T/ho  had  formerly  made  him  prifoncr.:^  Til^ 
Indian  was  highly  delighted  .to  lee  nU  old 
acquaintance,  whom  he  entertained  iti  his 
own  well-buik  (lonehoufe,  with  great  friend- 
iliip  and  hofpitalityi  while  his  gueft  did  not 
difcover  lefs  fatisfa£tion  in  an  oppoctunity  of 
ihaking  the  brave  Savage  by  the  hand  and 
proffering  him  procedion  in  this  r«verfe4>f|iis 
military  fortunes.  '^  * 

When  the  belligerent  powers  ^eft  con- 
fiderably  exhaufted,  a  rupture  took  place  bi- 
fMreen  Great  Britain  and  Spain  in  the  njonth 
or  J»nijjK|_  176a,  and  an  exped i tion  W9» 
formed  iMKcampaign,  under  Lord  Alber- 
0'inarley  agnll^thG  Havannah.  A  body  of 
Provincial5,  compofcd  of  five  hundred   men 

ii|i*om  tht  Jerfcys,  eight  hundred  from  New- 
Yodt  said  one  thoufand  from  Conncdicut> 
joined  his  Lordfhip.  General  Lyman,  who 
raifed  the  regiment  of  one  thoufand  men  in 
Connedticut,  being  the  fenior  officer,  com- 
manded the  whole :  of  courfe  the  immediate 
commamd  of  his  r^ipBent  devolv€;d  upon 
LicutCiani  Colonel  Putman.   The  fleet,  that 

•  ( carrier!  thefe  troops,  (ailed  from  New- York 
and  arrived  fafely   on  the  coaCl  of  Cul 
There  a  terrible  ftorm  arofe,  and  the  tn 
port,  in  which  Lieutenant  Colonel  Pui 
bad  emb^ed  with  five  hundred  mtn,  yrS 


I 


|i 


%  • 


'X-Ajftii*-*!™.^ 


(      t7      ) 


wicc&ed  on  a  rife  of  craggy  rocks.      The 
vreatber  was  fo  cempefluous   and   the   luif, 
which  ran  mountain- high,  dafhed  with  fuch 
vioience  againit  the  (hip,  that  the  mod  expe- 
rienced Teamen  expected  it  would  ibon  pare 
idunder.     The  rclt  of  the  fleet,   fo  far  fro«TV 
being  able  to  afibrd  adiftancey  with  difHculiy 
fbde  out  the  gale.    In  this  deplorable  fitua- 
|ioiru  '^  the  only  expedient  by  which  they 
could  b<^  fayed,  fttidt  order  was  mainuined 
M<i^;tt^^^i)>ie  jpfople»  who  be(l  underdood  the 
lirfe  of  t^U^inftantly  employed  in  conftrud- 
i^g  rafts  from  fpars,  plank  and  whatever  oth« 
^  materials  could  be  procured.     There  hap- 
pened to  be  on   board  a  large  *(|^sltntity  of 
ftrong  cords   (the  fame  that  are  p|d  in  the  . 
whale  fifhcry)   which,  being  flltened  to  the 
rafts,  after  the  firll  had  with  inconceivabla 
hazard  reached  the  fhore,  were  of  infinite  fer^ 
vice  in   preventing  the  others  from  driving 
out  to  Tea,  as  aifo  in  dragging  them  athwart^ 
the  billows  tothe  beach :    by  which  means,  ' 
every  man  was   finally  faved.      With  the 
fame  prefenCe  of  mind  to  take  advantage  of^^ 
circumdaflccs  and  the  fame  precautibri^l^  ** 
ventconfufion,on  fimilar  occafions,.Kow  i(l&-e> 
ny  valuable  live?,   prematurely  loft,  t«^^t? 
M\^  been  preferved  as  blcfSngs  to  thwfa- 
lirinies,  their  friends,  and  their  Country. \    As. 
^1^  as  all  were  landed,  LieuteiiafUr  C^liet 


W9'. 


(       88       ) 


f. 


«t«.. 


Putnann  fortlfiecl  his  camp,  thathem^taot 
be  expofed  to  infult  from  the  inhabtiflfilift  of 
the  neighbouring  dlftri^s  or  ^om  tjboCe  of 
Carthagena^,  who  were  but  twenty  -  four  tliikt 
diftant.    Here  the  party  remained  unmcldlt* 
cd  feveral  days,  until  the  (term  had  fo  mtus^' 
abated,  as  to  permit  the  convoy  to  take  tl|ji«( :: 
off.    They  foon  joined  the  troops  before  i4il^^ 
Havannah,  who,  having,  been  feveral  f|Kf|kt 
JO  that  unhealthy  climatf)  ^already  ||itj^^ 
grow  extremely  *iickly*     .^i  «^:^||i|j|jM||.;^. 
arrival  of  the  Provliicial  reinfbi'ciiieidii^ 
jperfect  health^codpipbuted  not  a  html(l^K»%^^^ 
wurd  the  works  ip^haften  the  reduiEtlkm  # 
that  impi^ht  place.      But  the  Provinci^s  - 
fufiered  fcimiferably  by  ficknefs,  aftt:wards, 
that  yery  fdl  ever  returned  to  their  native 
land  again. 


JfkhTnovcH  a  general  peace  among  the  £u- 

*  Qolopel  Haviltid  (flu  accoonpliihed  officer  feveral 
times  mentioned  in  thefe  aienioirs)  who  brought  to  A- 
merica  &  regiment  of  one  thoufand  Irift  veterans*  had 
^;^|bnt  fcventy  men  remaining  alive  when  he  left  the  Ha<^ 
vaiii  Colonel  Haviland,  during  thii  ilege,%avrngj 
with  his  regiment  engaged  and  routed  five  hasdreiilj 
riardft,  met  Colonel  Putnam  on  his  return  and 

Piitnam,  give  me  a  pinch  of  fnufF.'*      "  I  never  ((p'* 
ry  any/*  returned  Putnam.--—**  I  have  alway$||l 
fuch  luck,*'  cried  Haviiand,  **  the  raically 
k%yi  ^ot  awiiy  my  pockety  ihuf-bQ^atid  all/' 


<( 


(( 


«< 


(( 


N 


%M 


-'-■    i 


'}  I- 


*v-.. 


Nj 


(      «9      ) 


IV. 


li:>is 


¥>--    i 


rbpetit  powers  was  ratified  in  1763,  yet  the 
fa^ag^s  on  our  weftern  frontiers  (lill  continu- 
ed their  hoftilities.  After  they  had  taken  fc- 
fCfii  podsv  General  Bradflreet  was  fent  in 
,1764  with  an  army  againft  them.  Colonel 
^utnanfi,  thm  for  the  firft  time  appointed  to 
rtc  command  of  a  regiment,  was  on  the  ex- 
l^ltion ;,  as  was  the  Indian  Chief  (whom  1 
']i|tl#\l^veral  times  had  occafion  to  mention 
turer)  It  the  head  of  one  hundred 
a  warriors*  Before  General  Brad- 
lEedlletroit^  which  the  lavages  in- 
aptaiift  D'ElJ,tptfaithful  friend  aird 
Intrepid  fellow-foldier  #  Colonci  Putt^ino,. 
had  been  flain  in  a  dfefperatc  falJy;'  He,  hav- 
ing been  detached  with  tive  hundred  men  in 
1763  by  General  A'mherft,  to  raife  the  (lege, 
fbund  means  of  throwing  the  fuecour  into  the 
fort.  But  the  garrifon  (commanded  by  Ma- 
jor Glad  wine,  a  brave  and  fenfitxie  officer) 
had  been  fo  much  weakenedi  by  the  lurking 
md  irtfidious  mode  of  war^pradtced  by  the 
favages,  th^t  not^  a  man  could  be  fparcd  to 
co-operate  in  an  attack  upon  them.  S^: 
c^it^mandant  would  even  have  dKTua^^d 
in  D*E1I  from  the  attempt,  on  accdijK 
great  difparity  in  numbers  ;  but  Hit 
r,.relying  on  the  difcipline  and  courage 
his  me%  replied  "God  fortiAi/^at  I 
ifiiouid  ever 'iiforbey  the  ordcrsjgf  my'  Gerv^ 

H-2  '^  ' 


^'''\,^  }**rs 


.-,W..*« 


f  5-  ■  ■  ■ 


-*  'I'^P-^^. 


-P^' 


t    90     )  V 

'*  era),'*  and  immediately  difpofcu  thtm  for 
adiion.  It  was  obdinace  and  bloody.  But 
the  vaftly  fuperior  number  of  'he  favagcs 
enabled  them  to  enclofe  Captain  D'Ell's  par- 
ty oa every  fide>  and  compelled  him  fiijally 
to  fight  his  way  in  retreat  from  one  ftonc- 
boufe  to  another.  Having  halted  tobreatlie 
amomenr>  he  faw  one  of  his  braveft  fcrgeants 
lying  at  a  fmall  di fiance  wounded  through 
the  thigh  and  wallowing  in  his  blood.  WJii^rc- 
upon  he  defired  fomc  of  the  men  to  rujQi 'a|i4 
bring  the  fergeant  to  the  houfe,  buttiw^^c- 
clincd  it.  Then  declaring  *f  that  he  |»<Wr 
**  would  leave  fo  t>rave  a  foldier  in  the  fields 
'^^  f 0  be  tDrtvr''id  by  the  favages,"  he  ran  and 
endeavored  to  help  him  up — at  tfce  inftant,  a 
volley  of  fhot  dropped  them  both  dead  toge- 
ther. The  party  continued  retreating  from 
hoiife  to  houfe  until  they  regained  the  fort  ; 
where  it  was  found  the  conflidl  had  been  fa 
^)Hrp  and  lafte4,ib  long,  that  only  fifty  men 
peniained  alive  df  the  five  hundred  who  had 
faliied. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  General  Bradftrect> 
the  Savages  faw  that  all  further  e^orts  in  9^s 
wpuld'bcvain,  and,  accordingly,  after  many 
fallacious  propofals  for  a  peace,  and  frequent 
tergiyerfations  in  the  negotiation,,  they  c;ort- 
eluded  a  treaty^  which  ended  the  war  la  ^d^^ 
inerka» 


! 


^•f'lmn)mmt"t.-r- 


(      9>      ) 


I 


'  CotON£i.  Putnam,  at  the  expiration  of 
ten  7eai;»  from  his  firll  receiving  a  Commif- 
fion,  lifter  having  leen  as  much  fcrvice,  en- 
dured is  many  hardihips,  encountered  as 
many  dangers  and  acquired  as  many  laurels 
as  9ny  officer  of  his  rank,  with  great  fatisfac- 
tion,  laid  afide  his  umfom  and  returned  to 
his  plough.  The  vario  aftd  uncommon 
Icenes  of  war  in  which  he  ^a  aded  a  rel- 
pedable  parr,  his  intercom  .  with  the  world 
andJMni^y  with  forne  of  the  ftril  characters 
iniJb^Jirmy*  joined  with  occafional  reading, 
bi^BiM:  qnly  bragght  into  view  whatever  ta- 
kjnts  he  poflefl^  from  natuire;  but^  at  tM 
fiuTie  time>  had  extended  his  knoi|rkdge  and 
polifhed  his  manners  to  a  confiderftble degree. 
Not  having  become  inflated  with  pride  or  for- 
g(;tful  of  his  old  connections,  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  poflcfs  entirely  the  good  will  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  No  character  (tood  fairer  ia 
.  the  pufelic  eye  for  integrity*  bpivery  iwid  p4- : 
triotifrti.  He  was  employed  iii  feverat  offices  * 
Jn  his  own  town  and  not  un  frequently  eleded 
to  reprefent  it  in  the  General  iyTembly. 
The  year  after  his  return  to  private  life,  tftc 
mind^of  men  were  ili;angely  agitated,  by  an 
att^mj^t  of  the  BriliihP^liAniienrx  to  intro* 
d|y(|C  the  memorable  Stamp^^  in  America. 
Tj^s  teerme  of  policyywfic^  growth  was  re- 
prtficra  by  the  nooderstt^  t^B^rature  Ia  which 


I 


..r... 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


7 


/ 


_<     m/.. 
k. 


1.0 


I.I 


lU    12.2 
2.0 


1.8 


L25  i^  11^ 


Kiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


u. 


w^ 
SS 


> 


(      92      ) 


#■ 


I& 


it  was  kept  by  feme  adminiftrations,  d;d  not 
fully  difclofc  its  fruit  until '  ncarlj^^  eleven 
years  afterwards.  All  the  world  khbws  how 
it  then  ripened  into  a.  civil  war. 

• 

On  the  twenty- fecond  day  of  Match.  1765 
the  Stamp  Afl  received  the  royal  aiTent.      It 
wa$  to  take  place  in  Arherica  on  thefirft  day 
of  November  following.    This    innovlirion 
fpread  a  fisdden  and  univcrCall  alafrn.^^he 
political  pulfein  the  Pi-ovinceiB|fn>nnFill%||9  to 
Gevrgiay  throbbed  in  fyncipath^      'ttii^  Ai^j 
ftmbliesin  nnqfl  t>f  thefe  co^iiie^^  ttiac  dky 
||igy  Q^ple  it  le|ally  and  in  conccrt»v  &- 
pointed;  fi^fg^^cs  to  confer  together  on  tfie 
^ftibje6t.  .Tfiis  firft  Congrefsmcr,  early  in 
■pdtober,  at  New- York.     They  agreed  upon 
a  Declaration  of  Rights  and  Grievances  of 
the  Colonifts  5    together  with  feparate  Ad- 
drefles  to  the  King,  Lord^  and  Commons  of 
Great  Britain,  ^tt  the  mean  t!me,;thc  people- 
had  determine,    in  order  to    prevent  the. 
ftamped  paper  from,  being  diftributed,   that 
the  Stamp  Matters  fliould^  not  enter  on  the 
execution  of  their  office.      That  appmnt* 
mcnt,  in  Connedbicut,   had'  been:  coii|prrcd' 
Upon  Mr.  Iftg^ribl,  a  very  dignificdi  fehfifa^e 
^nd  learned  native  of  the  colony  5,  who,  upw' 
b^ing  folicited  to  refign,  did  nqt^  in  th^  lijft' 
inftance,  give  a  fatisfactory  anfwcr.    Inifep- 


i, '^ 


>' 


(      93      ) 


fequei^f  of  which,  a  great  number  of  the  Tub- 
ftatitfairyeomanry,  oh  horfeback,  furnifhed 
with  prWifions  for  thcmfclves,  and  proven- 
der for  their  horfes,  alTembled  in  the  eallern 
eounties  and  began  their  march  for  New-Ha- 
ven to  feceive  the  refignation  of  Mr.  Inger* 
fol.  A  junction  with  another  body  was  to 
hjEve  been  formed  inBramford.  But  having 
learfed  at  Hartford/ that  Mr.  Ingerfol  would 
b€[  id  town  ;he  next  day  to  claim  protedlion 
hp^^J^twl^^^  there 

iqp|||pi^iQ^|i^^  during  the  whole  night, 
tictl/mkt^-^^  it^^iout  their  know-* 

iitllse.  The  Aiebeeding  fiiornifl^  they  re^ 
m^  their  march  and  met  Mr.  jpjgerfbl  ifi 
Wethcrsfieldi  They  told  him  d^ir  bufintfsi 
and  he>  after  fome  little  hefitation,  mounted 
on  a  round  table  and  read  his  refignation*. 

*  The  curioas  may    beplcafed  to  know  that  th* 
RefignacloB  wai  exprefled  in  thefe  Ci|j|licit  teritit : 

WethersfieU,  Se^mber  ^tbtX-j^^,' 

"  I  do  hereby  promife,  that  I  never  will  receive  any 
'*  ftamped  papers  which  may  arrive  from  Europe*  in 
*'  COnfeqaence  of  .an  A<^.  lately  paflTed  in  the  Parliament 
"  of  Great  Britain  ;  nor  o%iate  as  Stamp  Matter  or 
*'  Dil^biitor  o£$tamps*  wicbin  the  colony  of  Connec- 
ticut* either  diredty  or  indireAly.  And  I  do  hereby 
^notify  to  all  the  Inhabitants  of  his  Maj«lly*s  Colony  of, 
Conneflicut.  (nipilwithftanding  the  faid  office  or  truft 
**  jias  been  comntli^d  to  mt)  not  to  apply  to  me.  eve^ 
fl^U  ior  any  jlimped  paper ;    $tr*hjididanni  tkut  I 


*t 

ti 
(t 


<( 


■A' 


■■     if.' 
'i  ' 


"^ 


•   ♦ 


-j-"^ 

■.^'A 


(      94      ) 


.•    / 


That  finifhed,  the  multitude  defircd  him  t» 
cry  out  **- liberty  and  property"  three  times  -y 
which  He  did,   and  was.  anfwered   i^y  three 
)oud  hu2zas.  ^    He  then  dined  with*  fome  of 
the  principal'  men  at  a  tavern^  by  whom  he 
was  treated  with  great  politenefs,  and  after- 
wards was  efcorted  by  about  five  hundred 
horfe  to  Hartford :  where  he  again,  read  his 
refig^ation  amidft  the  unbounded  acclima- 
tions of  the  peopled     I  have  choTen  to  ftyle 
this  collection  the jr^0nitfffi7»  the  li^ 
the  people,  becaufe  I  could  ndt  ms&^tife  of  | 
the  £ngliih  word  mot  (wh||h  lei^iWl'  %-  ' 
nilie^  adtfonlerly  ^incurrence  6f  the  ri^|)i 
wkhoutfiliilr^  erroneous  idea,     it  is 

Icarcely  necllQ&ry  to  add,  that  the  people,,their 
#bje^  being  effedbed».  without  offering  di(lur- 
bance^  difperfedto  their  homes*. 

^^r^figntbe/aid'tffictt^A^tntvalit  thefi  Frbsents 
**  ofmyowo.  FRirwiLL  and  accord*  without  anyi 
*^  eqai vocation  or  iaental  refervation. 

'*  In  Witncft  whereof  Ihave  hereaifto  itt  my  hand>^. 

Ji  IMGERSOL. 

*  t*o  ^1  ve  a  trait  of  the  urbanity  that  prevailed,  }t^.. 
may  not?  be  amift  to  mention  a  jeft  that  paued  in  the  et<!> 
vaicade  to  Hartford, and  was  reeeivr'  ^vsth  the  mol|  per* 
£<q3  good  hampr.  Mr.  Ingerfol,  w^  ;y  chance  iodi  a 
white  horfc.being.afked  **  whathw  thought,  to  fih^ 
*<  himfelf  attended  byiiich  a  retinue  ?"^*repl]ed,  <^  llwc. 
«'  he  had  now  a  dearer  idea. than  eylr  he  had  ^^bre  , 
*'  conceived,  of  that  paflage  in  the  KfVelations,  Witi^. 
«^  4efi;ribes,  ^tafh^afiptStUuffi^amtlSMfillmiii^^ 


f  „ 


m 


(95      ) 


tSBKTS 

;oL. 

tied.  H. 

[tb"ffn^  . 
bdb»« 


'%■ 


CoLONf  L  Putnam,  who  indigated  the  peO'» 
pletothefe  mcafurcs,  was  prevented  from  at- 
tending by  accident.  But  he  was  deput- 
ed foon  after,  with  two  other  gentlennen>  to 
w^it  on  Governor  Fitch  on  the  fame  fubjeA. 
The  queHions  of  the  Governor  and  aniwers 
of  Putnam  will  fcrvc  to  indicate  the  fpirit  of 
the  times.  After  fome  converfation,  the  Go- 
vernor afked,  "  wh^t  hc«ihould  do  if  the 
ft^p^  paper  fliQuld  be  fent  to  him  by 
th^l*  ICing*j5  authority  ?*'^ — Putnam  replied, 
Jod^  ^  up  tfnti|  jpihall  vifit  you  again." — 
^nd  iH^  do  then  ?"  "  We  fhall 

V  cs^^  yoii  to  give  us  the  key  of  ^  room 
*^  yfe^hich  it  is  depofitedj  and,  if  you  think 
"  lit  in  order  to  fcreen  yourfelf  from  blame, 
**  you  may  forewarn  us  upcn  our  peril  not  to 
"  enter  the  room." — "  And  what  will  you 
"  do  afterwards  ?" — "  Send  it  fafely  back^ 
"  again."—"  But  what  if  I  fhould  refufc  ad- 
"  million?"—"  In  fuch  a  cafe,  your  houfe 
"  will  be  levelled  with  the  duft  in  five  mi- 
"  nutcs."— It  was  fuppofed  that  *«tport  of 
this  >onverfation  was  one  reafoi\  j^  the 
flampif^  paper  was  never  fent  frOsm  New-. 
York  to  Comaefticut.  ■ 

:'#\,';\;;-^  '  --v      ' 

Smn  unjHiiniity  in  the  Pfoyirtciid  Affem- 
bSei  and  dec^ifioil  In  the  yeonm»^jpi^^ 


M 
CC 


I 


(   96   ) 

wrpedicncy  of  attempting  to  fcnforc*  the  new 
Revenue  Syftem.  The  Stamp  Ad  being  re- 
pealed and  the  apprehenfions  in  a  meafure 
quie«^:  Colonel  Putnam  continued  to  la- 
bor ^h  his  own  hands,  at  farmings  without 
mterrtiption,  except,  (for  a  little  time)  by  the 
lofs  of  the  firft  joint  of  his  right  thumb  from 
one  acddent,  and  the-  compound  fracture  of 
his  right  thigh  frctn  another — that  thigh,  be- 
ing rendered  nearly  ah  inch  (hofter  ihaai  the 
lefti  occafioned  him  evtj*|fcer  tolki]^  in  hi 
walk..-  ^^'"Wm-:-':^'^k.^-^':'^'  .^ 

The  frovinciatOfficcrs  anSi  SdJdSii»?j|iMn 
Connedticut,  who  furvived  the  conquest  dftjfhe 
Havannah,  appointed  General  Lyman  to  re- 
ceive the  remainder  of  their  pri«e  money  in 
£ngland.  .  A  company,  .compo&d  partly  of 
^Dliktary  and  partl^f  ^f  other  gentlemen,  whofe 
ebjeift  was moblaln  from  the  Crown  a  grant, 
of  Land^gj^iCN  Miffifippi,  alfo  commiited  to 
him/4il?iifi|otiation  of  their  affairs.  When 
fev^al  years  had  elapfed  in  applications,  a 
Grant  of  Land  was  obtained.  In  1 770  Gen- 
eralLyman,  with  Colonel  Putnam  and  two  or 
three  others  went  to  explore  the  fitti^ion.', 
After  a  tedious  voyage  and  a^  laborious^  paf* 
%e  up  the  Mifiinppi,  t|l^  iiccQnifm^^ 
their  bufineii*  '<  \:^.* 


■'^f. 


M 


'^,  v^ 


'^'mt 


PAV 


(      97      ) 


General  Lyman  came  back  to  Connecti- 
cut with  the  Explorers,  but  foon  returned  to 
the  Natchez  :  there  formed  an  Eftablifhment 
and  laid  his  bones.  .  Colonel  Putnam  placed 
fome  laborers  ^ith  provifions  and  (arming 
ucentils  upon  his  location,  but  the  encreafing 
troubles  fhor|ly  after  ruined  the  profped  of 
deriving  any  ad^fantage  from  that  quarter. 

Iir  ipeaking  of  <^e  troubles  that  enfued,  I 
ndt'bn^oi^it  to  i^lny  thing,  on  the  obnox- 
ious oiaim  afiertCQ  in  the  Britifh  declaratory 
ad,  (1ie;.(^^|^iion  of  the  duty  on  tea,  the  < 
atcenc^W  iE^rude  that  article  upon  the  A- 
nii^^ans,  the  abortion  of  this  project,  the 
'  Bofton  Port  Bill,  the  alteration  of  the  charter 
of  MaCachufetts,  and  other  topics  of  univer* 
fal  notoriety;  but  even  wave  all  difcuifionof 
irritations  on  the  one  part  and  fupplications 
on  the  other,  which  preceded  the  war  between 
Great-Britain  and  her  colonies  on  thisconti« 
'  nent.  It  will  ever  be  acknowledged  by  thole 
who  were  beft  acquainted  withi  fadbs,  and  it 
ihould  be  made  known  to  pofterity,  that  the 
king  of  England  had  not,  in  his  extenfive 
dominions,  fubjedts  more  luyal,  more  dutiful 
or  more  zealous  for  his  glory  than  the  Ame- 
ricans ',  and  thac  nothing  Hiort  of,  a  meUm* 
>choly  p(erftiafio%  tha^:tbe  **  meafuc^  whicit 
^^  £o€  m^  ftm  lyfemiati^]^ 


■'■■%" 


-.  'f;  ^m 


^•s  .  V. 


C  9»  )•  ;-..^^ 

^  purrued>  by  his  minifters,  were  cdtilliN^ 
***  to  fubvcrt  their  conftitutions,"  could  have 
^ifiblved  their  powerful  attachment  to  thac 
kingdom,  which  they  fondly  called  their  jp*- 
renf  country.  Here,  without  digreffing  to 
develope  tiie  caufe,  or  dcfcribe  the  progrefsv 
it  may  fuffice  to  obferve,  the  difpute  now 
verged  precipitately  to  an  awful  cnfis.  Moft 
confiderate  men  forefaw  it  would  terminate 
in  bipod.  But,  rather  than  fuficr  tj|e  chains 
(which  they  believed  in  |)|ft|>«im^Oi^^ 
rivetted,  they  nobly  deteriW^M^  to :  J^^ 
their  lives,  la  va|ii  4M  Wllp^  t^ 
infatuation  of  th^  tranfammt^j 
which  drove  them  to  deeds  of  defperl 
Convinced  of  the  reditude  of  their  catire> 
and  doubtful  of  the  ifiue,  they  felt  the  moft 
pamful  foUcitude  for  the  fat«  of  their  coun* 

.^  try,  oa  contemplating  the  fuperior  ftrength 
of  the  nation  with  which  it  was  to  contend* 
America,  thinly  inhabited,  under  thirteen  dif- 

'  tindt  colonial  governments,  could  have  little 
hopeoffuccefs,, but  from  the  protcftion  of 
providence  and  the  unconquerable  fpirit  of 
freedom  which  pervaded  themafs  of  the  pco* 
pie  :  it  is  true,  fince  the  peaces  (he  had  fur- 
prifingly  encreafed  in  wealth jpd  population 

—but  the  rcfources  of  Briui^  jUmdft  exfrced* 
cd  credibility  or  conception.  It  is  not  won'* 
derful  thenj  that  fome  good  d|itiefis»  of  wf»ik« 


1 


kav<e        ■ 

that        ■ 

TpO"          ■ 

ngto        ■ 

grefs,        ■ 

now       ■ 

Moft       ■ 

ninate       H 

:batn8       H 

i6r>  ^be  .    ■  . 

Prifi^  \    H.^ 

•SMte  h^KjmL 

ciUiie»   ^Hr^ 

:  moft    ^V 

coun-      H 

r^ngdi      ■ 

ntend^     ■ 

^ndif.     ■ 

e  little     ■ 

Ion  of    fl 

/  ■ 

iric  of     H 

epeo>»     ■ 

»1  fur-     H 

iladon     ■ 

x^cedv   ■ 

t#OR<»      ■ 

'•' 

wtaki    ■ 

\  C      »9      ) 

If  licti^,  recoiled  tt  the  profped :  while 
#chera»  lirho  had  bten  officers  in  the  late  war», 
Dir-wHo  had  witnefled  by  travelling  the  force 
of  Britain,  (lood  aloof*.  All  eyes  were  now 
fumed  to  Bnd  the  men,  who,  poflelTed  of  mil^ 
itary  experience,  would  dare,  in  the  approach- 
ing hour  of  fevereft  trial,  to  lead  their  undif- 
^iplined  fellow- citizens  to  battle.  For  none 
were  (oftupid  as  not  to  comprehend  that 
want  of  fucceik  woukl  involve  the  leaders  in 
th|,^^f))AliiflMlif^  Putnam  was> 

^'      'ite  £&^  confpicuous  who 

(iM^^i  |!|^^  the  /Vmericans  bad 
^y^itiifty  who  Wi^ffidfthetrfbt^ugation,, 
rcetly  as  ilidifcritihinately  ft igmati  fed 
the  imputation  of  cowardice — he  felt 
— "he  knew  for  himfelf,  he  was  no  coward  |, 
and  from  what  he  had  feen  and  known,  he  be-- 
lieved  that  his  countrymen,,  driven  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  defending  their  rights  by  arms^, 
would  find  no  difficulty  in  wiping  away  the 
ungenerous^  afptriion.  As  he  happened  to  be 
often  atBofton,  he  held  many  con verfations 
^m  thefc  fubjefts  with  General  ^Gagc  the  Bri- 
tish Commander  in  Chi<:f,  Lord  Piercy,  Co- 
lonel SheriflF,  Colonel  Small  and  many  officers 
with  whom  hr)iad»formerly  ferved,  who  were 
now  at  th^Hcad  Quarters.  Being  often 
Queftionedy  *5*in  Gafe  the  difputc  (hould  pro- 
^'  cccd  iahoftUi|i€s,^whatpajrt  Ke  wQuld^rcaUjfii 


^i:" 


'H^- 

^,»^^ 


(    «>•    ) 


u 


^  take  ?*•  He  always  anfwcrcd,    *'  nfith  hb 
country,  and  chat,  let  whatever  might  bap- 
pen,  he  was  prepared  to  abide  the  conle- 
quence."     Being  interrogated   "  whether 
•*  be,  who  had  been  a  witnefs  to  the  prowefs 
**  and  victories  of  the  Britilh  fleets  and  armies, 
*^  did  not  think  them  equal  to  theconquellofa 
**  country  which  was  not  the  owner  of  a  fin- 
**  gle  Ship,  Regimtnt  or  Magazine?"    He 
rejoined  that    **  he  could  only   i^y  juftice 
«  would  ^  on  our  fide  aii4  the  eveij^t  with 
<f  Providifjce:    but  that||^  had  c»Ic^)ated,  | 
^^  "  if  it  required  Rx  yearS^^  th^^on^l^il^ 
««  forces  of  England  |nd  her  Cbibniei  tacon- 
*«  quer  fuch  a  Teeble  Country  as  Canada^    it 
*«  would  at  lead,  take  a  very  long  time  for 
«*  England  alone  to  overcome  her  own  wide- 
*«  ly  e:;tended   Colonies,   which  were  much 
«  ftronger  than  Canada :    That   when   men 
«'  fought  for  every  thing  dear,  in  what  they 
•<  believed  lo  be  the  moft  facred  of  all  cauf- 
♦''es, ^and  in  their  own  native  land;    they 
<«  would   have  great  advantages  over  their 
*«  enemies,  who  were  not  in  the '  fame  fitua- 
«"  tron  :  and  that,  having  taken   into  view 
"  all  circumftances,  for-  his  own  part,  he  ful- 
•<  ly  believed  that  America  would  not  be  To 
«  eafily  conquered  by  Englaa^'as  thofe  gen- 
«'  tlemen  feemed  to  expedt.     Being  ondt,  i|V  >  . 
particular,  afked,  "  whe^cr  he  did  not/" 


ui-l-Ar 


M 


''•^ 


■**.■ 


C     ^^'     ) 


:\  • 


M 


^*  mifly  believe  that  a  wtH  appointed  BritilK 
'*  armf  offivc  thoufand  veterans  could  march 

«*  through  the  whole  corilinent  of  America  V 
He  replied  brifklvi  "  no  doubt,  if  they  be- 
**  haved  civilly  and  paid  well  for  every  thing 
"  they  wanted"—**  but"— after  a  moment's 
paufe  added-^—^'if  they  (hould  attempt  it  in  a* 
**^  hoftile  manner  (though  the  Amei'ican  meit' 
"  were  out  of  thequedion)  the  women,  with 
**  their  ladies  and  broomf^icks,  would  knock 
**  them  all^oii^l^e  head  before  they  bad  got^ 
*<  bi^f  #§y  thp|ll|^v'     This  was  the  tenor^ 
our  heri»hii|l|pimM^      me,^ofrhefc  amicable. 

{tcns^in  diff^utes,  ji^uti|^^    oveiits,..  which 
stipend  OB  opinidn):  they  plarted  without  con-^ 
viaion  :  no  more  to  meet  in  a  friendly  man* 
ner,  until  after^ihe  appeal  fhould  have  been  < 
made  to  Heaven  and  the  ifTue  confirmed  by 
the  fword..    In  the  mean  time,, to  providt  a*- 
gaind  the  ^Hl  contingency,   the  militia  in: 
the  feveral'lpolonies  was  fedulouHy  trained  5 
and  thofe  feleft  companies,,  the  flower  of  our 
j^^^,  which  were  denominated  minutemcn, , 
liplably  to  the   indication   of  their,  rumey. 
IH^  themfelves  in  readinefs  to  march  at  a  mo«- 
n^ift's  warnins^ 

)^^;  A*'  length  thi  fatal  day  arrived,  when  hoft. 
Ji^e^  coipn^fiited.    Gencfal  Gt^ge,   in  the      / 

:"V  ■■  '.  I  a- 


f 


\ 


(         102        ) 


.t«cning  of  the  i8th  of  April  1775,  detach- 
ed fi om  Bodon  the  Grenadiers  and  Li|;ht  In- 
fantry of  the  Army,  comnnanded  by  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Smith,  to  deflroy  fome  military 
and  oiher  (lores  depofited  by  the  Province  at 
Concord.     About  funrife  the  next  morning 
the  Detachment,  on  marching  into  Lexing- 
ton, Bred  upon  a  company  of  militia  who  had 
ju(t  reaffcmbled :  for  having  been  alarmed 
late  at  night  with  reports  that  the  Regulars 
ivere  advancing  to  demoliih  the  (lores,  they 
cpUeded  on  their  parade*  and  were  ^IfmifTed  \ 
#ith  orders  to  reafiembl^^fc  beal^otdrum. 
It  tsdbibiiihed  l^y  the  afficUilitoC  more  than 
thirty  |^rfon9.wh9  ^ere  prefent,  tjiac  the  iirit 
fiie>  which  killed  'eight  of  the  militia  thin 
beginning  to  difperfe,  was  given  by  the  Brit- 
iih  without  provocation.     T4)e  fpark  of  war, 
thus  kindled,  ran  with  unexampled  rapidity 
and  raged  with  unwonted  violence.     To  re-- 
pel  the  aggreflion,  the  people  pf  the  border- 
ing towns  fpontaneoudy  rulhed  |i»  arms  and 
poured  their    fcattering  (hot  from  every  con- 
venient ftation  upon  the  Regulars  j    who,  af- 
ter marching  to  Concord  and  deft royingf the 
Magazine,  would  have  found  their  retreat  wi^ 
tercepted,   had  they  not  bee^  reinforced   by 
Lord  Piercy  with  the  battaliOT  companies  of 
three  rcgimtnts  and  a  body  of  marines.   ^Not^ 
withftlanding  the  jundlion  they  y ere  '"  ^ 


i..j:- 


'  ■■  *i    ■> 


-^(W23' 


.     (      »03      ) 

pufhed  and  purfiied  imtil  they  could  find 
protection  from  their  (liips.  Of  the  Biitifh 
two  hundred  and  eighty-three  were  killed, 
wounded  and  taken*  The  Americans  had 
thirty -nine  killed,  nineteen  wounded  and  two 
made  prifoners* 

,   Nothing  could  exceed  the  celerity  with 
which  the  intelligence  Aew  every  where,  that 
blood  had  been  (bed  by  the  Britilh  troops. 
The  country,  in  niotion,  exhibited  but  one 
fcenei  tt||  ouiTy»  preparation  and  revenge. 
Putnim,  «»ll0i  ifttpoug^       when  he  Imii 
the  titm^  lefiili  plough  in  the  middle  dJPlie 
field»  unyoked  his  team,  ||»d  withbiit  waiting 
to  change  his  cloaths,  fet  off  for  the  theatre 
ofafbion.     But  finding  the  Brirrfh  retreated 
10  Bofton  and  in  veiled  by  a  fufHcient  force  to 
watch  theirmovements,  he  came  back  tp  Q)n* ' 
nefticutj  levied  a  regiment  (under  authority  of 
the   LegiQature)   and  fpeedily  returned  to 
Cambridge*.    He  was  now  promoted  to  be 

*  An  article  (void  of  foundation)  mentioning  tn  int 
terview  between  General  Gage  and  General  Putnam 
appeared  in  the  BngHih  Gazettes  in  thefe  wor^: 
«*  General  Gage  viewing  the  American  army  with  his 
«'  teleicope,  iaw  Qien^r^l  Putnam  in  it,  which  (nrprifed 
.  **  him  ;  and  he  diHtlrived  to  get  a  meflage  delivered^ 
"  him,  that  Ite  wanted  to  fpeakl^m.  Putnam,  with- 
<*  out  any  hefiutiont  w«itc4 jiMlilNii^  GtnecalGagd 
f  fliewcd  hia  hk^  iY^tii;«t£ipii^ji^«H^^^  him  to  iSy 


-ijJSj' . 


('      104      ) 


Sf:^  1*-?. 


a  Major  General  on  the  Provincial  Staff/  by 
his  Colony  :  and  in  a  lictle  time  confirmed  bj 
Congrefs  in  the  lame  rank  on  the  Continen- 
tal Edablifhment..  General  Ward  of  Mafia- 
chufttts^  by  common  confent,..  commanded 
the  whole  :  And  the  celebrated  Dodtor  War* 
rcn  was  made  a  Major  General.. 

Not.  long  after  this-  period,  the  Britifh* 
Commander  in  Chief  found  the  means  to  con- 
vey a  propofal,  ,pr\y^tdy^to  General  Patnam, 
that,..if  he  would  rdinqul{|f  theHebel  party,| 
h^  pight  rely  upon  beingiiitIcA  £||^rGen- 
^^(e^m  the  Eiitifh  Jift^bl \m^im  inA  isecei V- 
Ifl^  a  greatpectHTia^  tompe^iiadon  for  hUfef- 
vices.   General  Putnam  fpwncd  at  the  offer:: 

^<fc  dawn  his  arms.  General  Paftnam  replied,  he  conld 
fl^fcMTce  his  fortifications  in  half  an  hour,  and  advifed 
•♦  €^nera}Gage  to  goon  board  the  fhips  withhi«  troops." 
The  apprehen&)n  of  an  attack*  is  adduced  withmuch- 
more  veriiimiHtuik),  in  M'Fingalj  as  the  reafon  why 
General  Gage  would  not  CufEsr  the  iuhabirants  to  ga 
from  the  town  of  Bofton,  after  he  bad  promifed  to  grant 
periniiEon :     . 

"         ••  So  Gage  of  late  agreed,  .you  know. 
To  let  the  Bofton  peop^e  go : 
Yet  when  he  f«w,  'gain ft  troops  thatbravM  him^ 
They  were  the  only  guards  that  fav'd  him. 
Kept  off  that  Satan  of  a  Fti4|t|i  am. 
From,  breakingin  t&  maul . and^Qitttt * n  him, 
HeM  too  much  wit' fuch  leagO^  t-  obferv^^ . 
And  ihut  them  in  gj^aln  ^o  Itarve.'*^ 


M 
«( 
«( 


•» 


M 


(      '05      ) 

which,   however,   he  thought  prudent  at  that 
time  to  conceal  from  public  notice. 

It  could  fcarcely  have  been  expe6ted,  but 
by  thofe  credulous  patriots  who  were  prone 
to  believe  whatever  they  ardently  defined,  that 
officers  affembled  from  colonies  difiindl  in 
their  manners  and  prejudices,  fcleded  from  la- 
borious occupations  to  command  a  heteioge- 
neous  crowd  of  their  equals  compelled  to  be 
Soldiers  only  by  the  fym  of  occafion,  fhould 
long  be  able  to  prefcrve  harmony  among 
\  themfelves  and'fubordi nation  among  their  fol- 
lowers. As  the  fadt  would  be  a  phaenoft^ 
non,  the  idea  was  treated  with  mirth  and 
mockery  by  the  friends  to  the  Briti(h  govern- 
ment. Yet  this  unihapen  embryo  of  a  mili- 
tary Corps,  com4Dofed  of  militia,  minutemen, 
volunteers  and  levies  J  with  a  burlefque  ly- 
pearance  of  multiformity  in  arms,  accoutre- 
ments, cloathing  and  condud,  ?.t  lafl:,  grew 
into  a  regular  Army — an  Army  which,  hav- 
ing vindicated  the  rights  of  human  nature  and 
,eftabli(hed  the  independence  of  a  new  Em- 
pire, merited  and  obtained  the  glorious  dif- 
tindbion  of  the  patriot  Army — the  patriot 
Army,  whofe  praifcs  for  their  fortitude  ina4- 
verfity,  bravery  in  battle,  moderation  in  coP 
queft,  perfeverance  in  fupportit^g  the  cruel 
extremities  of  hunger ^nd*i^j?kedners  without 


:s?:#.. 


•»^i4,^; 


a  mucmur  or  (igh^  as  well  as  for  their  magna^ 
nimity  in  retiring  to  civil  life>  at  the  moment 
of  vi(flory>  with  arms  in  their  hands  and  with- 
out any  juft  compenfation  for  their  (erviccs,^ 
will  only  ceafe  to  be  celebratedi  when  time 
ihall  exift  no  rnore^ 

Enthusiasm  for  the  cajife  of  liberty,  fub- 
ftituted  in  the  place  of  difcipline,  not  only 
kept  thefc  troops  together,,  bu^  enabled  them, 
at  once  to  perform  the  duties  ^ftdifciplined 
army.  Though  the  Comjrnanding  OlBcers| 
ftom  the  four  coloities  of  Hew-Bntgi^^  were 
irt  a  manhejTMndependent,  they^aded  haimo-. 
nioully  in  concert.  The  firft  attention  had 
been  prudently  direfted  towards  forming 
fome  little  redoubts  anil  entrenchments;  for 
it  was  well  known  that  lines,  however  flight 
ei|*intenable  were  calculated  to  infpire  raw 
ibldiers  with  a  confidence  in  themfelves.  The 
next  care  was  to  bring  the  live  flock  fromthcJ; 
Iflands  in  Bofton  bay, jn order  to  prevent  the/ 
cnenfjy  (alreadv  furrounded  by  land)  from 
matting  ufe  ot  them  for  fre(h  provifions.  In 
the  latter  end  of  May,  between  two  and  three 
hundred  men  were  fent  to  drive  off  the  ftock 
from  Hog  and  Noddle  Ifland^,,  which  arefi-' 
^atcdon  the  North-Eaft  ^e  of  Bodop  har- 
bour. Advantage  having^been  taken  of  the 
ebb-tide>.  when  the  water  u.finrdj^bk  between 


V     «> 


i      to>      ) 


the  main  and  Hog  Ifland,  as  it  is  between 
that  ami  Noddle  IQand,  the  defign  was  effe6t«> 
ed.  But  a  fkirmifh  enfued  in  which  fomc  of 
the  Marines^  who  had  been  (lationed  to  guard 
them>  were  killed  :  and  as  the  firing  continu** 
td  between  the  Britifh  water-craft  •and  our 
party^  a  reinforcement  of  thr^e  hundred  men, 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  was  ordered  to 
join  the  latter.  General  Putnam  took  the 
comn(^n<^  and  haviii|^|iimrelf  gone  down  on 
the  blicfc^^hin  co^ydrfing  diftance*^  in- 
i0fl^kofdtr€^ike;ptOT^  on  board  an  arnv- 


ed  Scliibner6|^  JS^^^      he  pHed  her  witb  fl^C  %■ 
ib  fai|ou%  that  the  crew  made,^d^rleicapd 
aoSlii^  veflel  was  burnt.      An  ^%mm   flo^p 

^was  like  wile  lb  mtich  dilalilidv^as  to  be  towea 
off  by  the  boats  of  the  fleet*  Thus  ended  thii 
affair,  in  which  feveral  hundred  (heep  and 
fome  cattle  were  removed  from  under  tl|i 
l^uzzles  of  the  enemy's  cannon>  and  our  nfi^H 
accuHoitted  to  ftand  fire,  by  being  for  wrihf 

thours  expofed  ta  it  without  mieetlng  with  a«^ 
ny  Ids.  > 

Thi  Provincial  Generals  having  reottved  ' 
advice  that  the  Britilh  Coiiiinander  in.  Chief 
^efigned  to  taj^pofleffion  ofxhe  heights  qH 
the  peninfula  of  Charles  T^^ri,  detact^vi 
thoufand  men  in  the  night  of  the  ii6tkof  Jufi|^ 

'    the  on^moi  Gftiiiii  Wa^^^t^  jnP 


•■ti«i'.' 


*» 


^^    *• 


(      loS      ) 


m 


trench  thcmfelves  upon  one  of  thcfc  cmincnc- 
cs»  named  Bunker  Hill.  Though  retarded 
by  accidents  from  beginning  the  work  until 
nearly  midnight,  yet,  by  dawn  of  day^  they 
h^d  conftrufted  a  redoubt  about  cight«  rpds 
J(|uare  and  commenced  a  breaftnwork*  from 
lliyert  to  the  low  grounds  y  which  an  infuf- 
fe^le  fire  from  the  (hipping,  floating  batteries 
andcannpn  on  Cop's  Hill,  in  Bofton,  prcyinco 
ed  them  fi*6m.com pleating,  i^  mid*  da^  four 
battalions  of  foot,  ten  companies  lof  Grena,- 
diers,  ten  companies  of  Light  Infantryj,  witl^ 
i|iroportio(vot  artillery,  commanded  by  Maj. 
Gen.f^Qpi^  landed  under  a  heavy  cminonade 
from  th^  mips  aad  advanced  in  three  liites  to 
the  attack.  The  J4g^t  infantry,  being  form- 
ed on  their  right,  was  direfted  to  turn  the  left 
flank  of  the  Americans :  and  the  Grenadiers, 
ibpportcd  by  two  Battalions,  to  ftorm  the  re- 
doubt in  front.  Meanwhile,  on  application, 
idgfe  troops  wereaugmented  by  the  47th  Regi*- 
mifi^,.the  id  Battalion  of  Marines,  together 
with  fome  companies  of  Light  Infantry  and 
Grenadiers,  which  formed  an  aggregate  force 
of  bitween  t'nyo  and  three  thoufand  men.  But 
£0  difficult  wa$  it  to  reinforce  the  Americans, 
by  fending  detachments  aci-^ihe  Neck  which 
ytf^s  raked  by  the  cannon  of  tb^  fhippipg,  that 
not  more  thin  fifteen  '  hutidifd ;  mea  were 
brought  into  aftionti  >,  Few  ialliiices  clip  bf 


,*  ^ 


.1    k: 


,,»j«»l|P5»|*<'!*^ijj| 


r 


(      JOJ      ) 


produced  in  the  annals  of  mankind  where 
Soldiers,  v^ho  had  never  before  faced  an  ene- 
my or  heard  the  whiftling  of  a  ball,  behaved 
with  fuch  deliberate  and  perfcveriog  valor. 
Itiliras  not  uotll  afcer  the  Grenadiers  had  been 
twice  repulfed  to  their  boats,  General  Warren 
(lain,  his  troops  exhai^fted  of  their  amnt^uni- 
tion,  their  lines  in  a  manner  enfiladed  by  ar- 
tiljcryi  and  the  redoubt  half  filled  with  Bri- 
ti(h  Regsilars*,  that  the  word  was  giv?n  to  re- 
tire.    Ii|  that  forlorn  condition,  the  fpeftaclc 
was  aftoniihing  as  new,   to  behold  thefe  un- 
difdplined  men,  moftof  them  without  bayo- 
nets, difputing  with  the  butt  end  of  their  muf- 
quets  againft  the  Britifh  b^ayonet  and  reced- 
ing in  fullen  defpair.     Sj^^  the  Light  Infan- 
try, on  their  left,  would  certainly  have  gain- 
ed their  rear  and  exterminated  this  gallant 
little  corps,  had  not  a  body  of  four  hundred 
Xonnefticut  men,  with  the  Captains  Knoul- 
ton  and  Chefter,  after  forming  a   temporary 
breaft-work  by  pulling  up  one  poll  and  rail 
fenQc  and  putting  it  upon  another,  performed 
prodigies  of  bravery.     They  held  the  enemy 
at  bay  until  the  main  body  had  relinquifhed 
the'  heights  and    then  retreated  acrofs  the 
nfck  with  mo^  regularity  and  lefs  lofs  than 
could  have  been  expelled. .  The  Britifh,  who 
effeftcd  nothing  but  the  dellruftion  of  Charles 
Town  by  a  wanton  *con  flagr at  ion,   h  ad  more 


(      "o      ) 


than  on«  halfofcheir  w  hole  number  killed  and 
wounded  :  the  Americans  only  three  hundred 
and  fifcy-fivc  killed,  wounded  and  mifTing. 
In  this  battle  the  prcfence  and  example  of 
6tncral  Putnam,  who  arrived  with  the  r€in~ 
forcement,  were  not  lefs  confpicuous  than 
ufeful.  He  did  every  thing  that  an  intrepid 
and  experienced  officer  could  accomplifh. 
The  enemy  purfucd  to  Winter  Hill — Putnam 
made  a  (land  and  drove  them  back  under  co- 
ver of  their  fhips. , 

The  premlture  death  of  Warren,  ont  of 
the  mod  iliuftrious  patriots  that  ever  bled  in 
the  caufe  of  Freedom;  the  veteran  appear- 
ance of  Putnam,  CQ|k6ted  yet  ardent  in  ac- 
tioh ;  together  with  the  aftoniihing  fee  Aery 
and  interefting  groupe  around  Bunker  Hill ; 
rendered  this  a  magnificent  fubjecSt  for  the 
hiftoric  pencil.  Accordingly  Trumbull,  for- 
merly an  Aid  de  Gamp  to  General  Wafhing- 
ton,  afterwards  Deputy  Adjutant  General  of 
the  northei^  Army,  now  an  artift  of  great  ce- 
lebrity inEurope,  hath  finifhcdthispifturcf  with 
that  boldnefs  of  conception  and  thofe  toiiches 
of  art  which  demonftrates  the  mailer.  Height- 
ened in  horror  by  the  flames  of  a  bufiiing 
town  and  the  fmoke  of  confliding  armies,  tSc 
principal  fcene,  taken  the  moment  when 
Wwen  fell,  reprefent«  .that  hero  in  the  ago^ 


( 


III 


) 


nics  of  death,  a  Grenadier  on  the  point  ofbav- 
onctcinghim  and  Cjlond  S  nail  (to  whom  he 
was  familiarly  known)  arreding  the  Soldier's 
arm :  at  the  head  of  the  Britifli  line  Major 
Pitcairne  is  feen  falling  dead  into  the  arms  of 
his  fon  :  and  not  far  diftant  General  Putnam 
is  placed  at  the  rear  of  our  retreating  troops, 
in  the  light  blue  and  fcarlet  uniform  he  wore 
that  day>  with  his  head  uncovered,  and  hi& 
fwoW  waving  towards  the  enemy,  as  it  were 
to  Hop  their  impetuous  purfuit.  Ij>  nearly 
the  fame  attitude  he  is  exhibited  by  '^irlow 
in  that  excellent  Poem  the  Vifipn  ot  Colum-* 
bus.  ^     . 

**  There  (Irides  bold  Putnam  and  from  all  the  plaiot» 
'*  Calls  the  tired  huil,  the  tardy  rear  fttllains» 
<'  And,  mid  the  whizzing  death's  that  611  the  air, 
*'  Waves  back  his  fword  and  dares  the  folFwing  war.*^ 


•  The  writer  of  this  RiTay  had  occanon  of  retnarkinj 
to  the  Poet  and  the  Painter,  while  they  were  three  thca- 
fand  miles  dilUnt  from  each  other  (nt  which  dillanc* 
they  had  formed  and  executed  the  plans  of  their  rerpc<f\- 
ivc  productions)  the  iimiUrity  obicrva^b  in  thrir  dof- 
eriptions  of  General  Putnam..  Thcfe  Liii/s  Xtguvrcr 
ar^  mentioned,  not  wiib  a  vain  prefu^nption  of  adding 
eclat  or  duration  to  works  which  have  received  the  feal 
of  immortality,  but  bec^ufe  they  preierve  in  the  filWr 
»rts  the  fame:  iilullrious  a^ion  of  our  hero.  I  perfiiade 
myfelf  I  need  not  apologize  for  annexing  the  bettttiftti 
lines  from  the  £OeA.ifiq^a£llkm^v4}A4l)t*&athwf  Geut- 


.     (    I"   ) 

After  this  adlion,  the  Britifh  (Irongly  for- 
tUied  themfelves  on  the  Peninfulas  of  Bofton 
and  Charles  Town  :  while  the  Provincials  re- 
mained podcd  in  the  circumjacent  country 
in  iuch  manner  as  to  form  a  blockade.  In 
the  beginning  of  Joly^  General  Wafhingtonj 
ivho  had  been  condituted  by  Congrefs  Com- 
ipander  in  Chief  of  the  American  forces,  ar- 
rived at  Cambridge  to  take  the  command. 
Having  formed  the  army  into  three  grand  di- 
vifions^  confiding  of  about  twelve  Regiments 
eachj  he  appointed  Major  General  Ward  to 
i^ommand  the  right  Wing,  Major  General! 
Ijtc  the  left  Wing  and  Major  General'  Put- 
nam the  referve.  Gtncral  Putnam's  alertnefs, 
in  accelerating  the  condru6tion  of  the  neceffa- 
ly  defences,  was  particularly  noticed  and  high- 
ly approved  by  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

About  the  20t.h  of  July,  the  Declaration  of 
Congrefs,  fetting  forth  the  reafons  of  their 
taking  up  arms,  Was  proclaimed  at  the  head 
of  the  feveral  Divifions.      It  concluded  with 


t€ 
»€ 
ti 
<« 
ft 
<( 


"  There,  haplefs  Warren,  thy  cold  earth  was  fee 
Thc/e  fpring  thy  laurels  in  immortal  green  ; 
Deareft  of  Chiefs,  that  ever  prefs*d  the  plain. 
In  Freedom's  caufe,  with  early  honors,  (lain. 
Still  dear  in  death,  as  when  in  fieht  yoa  moyM* 
By  hofts  applauded  and  by  Heav'n  aporov'd  j  ^ 
The  faithful  mufe  (hall  tell  the  world  thy  tzmti 
And  anborn  realms  rcfouud  tk'  iuunorul  aaine^" 


n. 


('   "J-  J 


tHcfc  patriotic  and  noble  fcntiments.      "  In 
•«  our  own  native  lancl,  in  defejcc  of  the  frce- 
'•^  domthat  is  our  birch  right,  and  which  we 
"  ever  enjoyed  unrij  the  la:e  violation  of  iti. 
"  for  the  protection  of  our  property,  acquir- 
**  cd   folcly   by  the   honeft  induftry   ofotii 
*  fo:r«fathcrs.and  ourfelvcs;  againft  violence 
*^  a6ltially  offered,  we  have  taken   up  arms. 
**  Wtiffhall  lay*  them-  down  when  hollilities 
**  «ial^<ca^f(:  on  thepart  of  the   aggrefTorSv 
"  and'ttl^^iHgcr  of  their  being  renewed  llialK 
**  bi^Tcmovcd,  and  not  before. ^ 


-^  -;rv 


X:' 


%Withan  hi»n|>Je  confidence  in^themer-^ 
«<  ck%  of  the  fupre.Tic  and  impartial  Judge 
•^  and  Ruler  of  the  Uhiverfe,,  we  molt  de- 
**  voutly  implore  his  divine  goodnefs  to  con- 
"  duft  \is  happily  through  (his  great  confiidt*,. 
"to  difpofe  our  adverfaries  to  reconciliation* 
•<  on  reafonable  terms,  and,  thereby,    to  le- 
**  lievethc  empire  from  the  calam:ties-of  ci- 
**•  vil  war."A-As   f^n  as  thefe  meinonible 
words  were  pronounced  to  General  Putnam's- 
Divifion,  which  he  had  ordered  to  be  paraded: 
on  Profpedt- Hill,  the/  (houted  in  thic:  Huz- 
zas a  loud  amen  1  Whereat  (a  cannon   froiu 
the  Fort  being  fired  ar>  a  fignal)  the  new  Simid* 
^rd^  lately  fentfrom  ConnetftkiK,;  was   li«l'- 
dwly  fcen  to  rife  and  unroll  icQlf  to  tlievvih 
baone  fidc  was  in^ribed  U>iirge«icK       oi' 

.  .*  T^ •  ■- ^^"^ ->>  ••T4 -^-^iirf-iikv*  ^  ■'*'y^ 


(       114'      ) 

Gold  "  An  Appeal  to  Heaven,"  and  on 
the  other  were  delineated  the  armorial  beai»- 
ings  of  Conncdlicut,  which  without  fuppo?t- 
crs  or  crelt,  con  fid  unQ(lentatioii.fly  ot  tjoree 
Vines :  with  this  motto,  *^  *^i  irapjfulu, 
"  Juftinet  i"  alluding  to  the  pious  confidence 
our  forefathers  placed  in  the  protcftion  of 
Heaven,  on  thme  three  allegorical  Scions — 
Knowledge — Ljberty — Rejligion.i- which 
they  had  been  indrumental  in  tranfplanting  to 
America. 

The  ftrength  of  pofition  on  the  enpiny's' 
part  and  want  of  ammun^on  on  ou|»^$  pre- 
vented operations  of  magnitude  from  being 
attempted*  Such  diligence  was  ufed  in  for- 
tifying our  camps  and  fuch  precaution  adopt- 
ed to  prevent  furprize,  as  toenfure  tranquilli- 
ty to  the  troops  during  the  winter.  In  the 
(pring  a  pofition  was  taken,  fo  menacing  to 
the  enemy  as  to  caufe  them,  on  the  17th  of 
March  1776,  to  abandon  Bofton  i  not  with- 
out confiderable  precipitation  and  derelidion 
of  royal  (lores. 

As  a  part  of  the  hoftile  fleet  lingered  for 
fometime  in  Nantalket  road  (about  .nine 
miles   below  Bofton)   General  Wafhington 

*  Literally,  "  Hgwh  trttnfplantid'wiUfipporttifVn,** 


^- 


■9 


#' 


(    "J   ) 


continued  hicnfelf  in  Boiton,  not  only  to  foe 
the  coail  entirely,  cltar,  but  alfo  to  make'  ma- 
ny indifpenfable  arrangements.  His  Excel- 
lency, propo.fing  to  leave  Major  General 
Ward  with,  a  few  regiments,  to  tinilh  tiiefoK- 
tifications. intended  as  a  fecurity  againd  an 
attack  by  water,,  in  the  mean  time  difpatched 
the  greater  part  of  the  army  to  New- York, 
where jit,was  moft  probable  the  enemy  would 
make  a  defcent.  tlpon^  the  failing  of  a  Beet 
with  troopMn  the  month  of  January,  Major 
GeneTjjLL<^e  bad  been  fen^to  the  defence  of 
that^j|||r ;  ^o,  after  having,  caufed  fome 
workf^.be  laid  out,^  proceeded  to  follow 
that  ^et  toSoutii  Carolina*  The  Cooi.- 
minder  in  Chief  ^as  now.  exceedingly  folicit^ 
ous.that  thefe  works  fUould  be  completed  as 
foon  as  poITible,  and  accordingly  gave  the 
following 


<( 


Orders  and  InflrudUbns  for.  Major  General 

Putnam., 


"  As  there  are  the  bed  reafons  to  belie\« 
that  the  enemy's  fleetand  army,  which  left 
NantafKet  road  laft  Wednefday  evening, 
are  bound  to  New- York  to  endeavor  to 
Jjoffcfs  that  important  poft,  and>  if  pofli- 
ble,  to  fecurcthe  communication  by  Hud- 
l^n's  River  to  Canada  |  it  mult  be  our 


,-^-'- 


f    ti6    y 


M 


care  to  prevent  them  from  accompli  (King 
their  defigns.  To  that  end,.  I  have  de* 
tached  Brigadier  General  Heath  with  the 
•*  whole  body  of  Rifle  men  and  five  Batta- 
**  lions  of  the  Continental  Army,  by  the  way 
**  of  Norwich  in  Connedicut,  to  N«w-Ybrk, 
Thcfe  by  an  exprcfs  arrived  yeftcrday  from 
General  .Heath,.  1  have  reafon  to  believe 
arc  in  New- York.  Six  more  Battalions,, 
under  General  Sullivan,,  march  this  morn- 
ing by  the  fame  raute,  and  will^]  hope,, 
arrive  there  in  eight  or  ten  dayi  at  fartheil.i 
The  re(^  of  the  army  will  immediately  fol- 
low in  Divifion^,  leaving  only  a.c()dveni- 
cnt  fpacc  between  cach^ivifion,  ta  prevent 
**  confudbn  and  wantofiltcommodationupK., 
f*  on  their  marelvi  You  will  no  doubt  make 
the  bed  difpatch  in  getting  to  New- York, 
Upon  your  arrival  there  you  will  affume 
the  command  and  immediately  |>roceed  in 
continuing  to  execute  thejDi/^»  propofcd  by 
Major  General  Lee,. for  fortifying  that  ci- 
ty and  fccuring  the  pafles  of  the  Eaftand 
North  Rivers.  If,  uponxonlultation  with 
the  Brigadiers  General  and  Engineers,  any 
alteration  in  th^t  plan  \s  thought  necefTa- 
ry,  yoii  are  at  liberty  to  make  it :  eautiouf- 
ly  avoiding  to  break  in  too  much  upon  his 
main  defign,  unlefs  whercj  it  may  be  ap* 
parently  nccellary  fo  to  db>  and  that  by  the 


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I 


W^" 


(      "7     ) 

<'  general  voice  and  opinion  of  the  gentle* . 
*<  men  abovemencloned. 


«< 

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it 
(t 
« 
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u 


•*  You  will  meet  the  Quarter  Mailer  Gen- 
eral Colonel  Miffiini  and  ^Comnniflary 
General  at  New-York.  As  thefe  are  both 
men  of  excellent  talents  in  their  different 
Departments,  you  will  do  well  to  give  them 
all  the  authority  and  afliftance  they  re« 
quire:  And  ihould  a  Council  of  War  be 
necefllvy*  it  is  my  dire^ion  they  aflift  at  it. 


<c 


*<  Your  ImiSiTvice  0nd  Expiritna  will 
better  than  my  particular  dire^ions  at  this 
*<  diftance,  point  out  to  you  the  works  moft 
w  proper  to  be  firft  raifcd  j  and  your  perfe- 
<<  verance,  activity  and  zeal  will  lead  you 
"  (without  my  recommending  it)  to  exert 
"  every  Nervi  to  difappoint  the  enemy's  de- 
"  figns. 

*«  Devoutly  praying  that  the  Power  which 
•'  has  hitherto  fuftained  the  American  Arms, 
«•  may  continue  to  blefs  them  with  the  di- 
**  vine  protedlion,  I  bid  you — Farewell. 

Given  at  Head  Quarters,  in  Cambridge^ 
this  a9th  of  March  1776. 

Geo.  Washington! 

•  Colonel  JofeplK  TrambulU  eldell  foa  to  the  Govr- 
ernorofihataame.  ,' 


. ,,  --.»»»«*..» 


(       ii8       ) 

Investud  with  thefe  commands.  General 
IPutnam  travelled  by  long  and  expeditious 
ftages  to  Ne^-York.  His  firft  precaution, 
upon  his  arrival,  was  to  prevent  didurbance, 
or  furprife  in  the  night  feafon.  With  thefe 
objedls  in  view,  after  pofting  the  neceflary 
guards,  he  iffued  his  *  Orders.  He  inftitu- 
ted,  likewife,  other  wholefome  regulations  to 
meliorate  the  police  of  the  troops  and  to  pre- 
ferve  the  good  agreement  that  fubfiftcd  be- 
tween them  and  the  citizens. 

'Notwithstanding  the  warhsul ^w  ra- 
ged; in  other  parts,  with  unaccuftofr^  feve- 
rity  for  nearly  a  year,  yet  the  BritilH^ips  at 
New- York  (one  of  which  had  once  fired  up* 
on  the  town  to  intimidate  the  inhabitants) 
found  the  means  of  being  fupplied  with  frefh 
water  and  provifions.      General  Putnam  re- 

*  General  Orders. 
•'  Head  Qnarters  New- York  April  5, 1776* 

**  The  Soldiers  are  ftridly  enjoined  to  retire  to  their 
barracks  and  quarters,  at  tattoo-beating,  and  to  rena^m 
there  until  the  reveille  is  beat. 

**  NecelTity  obliges  the  General  todefire  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  city  to  obferve  the  i«.nie  rule,   as  no  perfon , 
will  be  permitted  to  pafs  any  centry,   after  this  night, 
without  the  counter figa. 

*'  The  inhabitants,  whofe  bafineTs  requires  it,  may 
know  the  countevfi^n  by  applying  to  any  of  the  Bri- 
gade-Major  si/* 


.'-.MltillHitV- 


^■v. 


''«'* 


/- 


(    ">   ) 


fblvedto  adopt  cfFcdkual  nfieafures  forputtingt 
period  to  this  intercourfe  and  accordingly  ex- 
preffed  his  prohibition*  in  the  moft  pointed 


terms, 


Nearly  at  the  fame  moment,  a  detach- 
ment of  a  thoufand  Continentals  was  fent  to 
occupy  Governor's  Ifland,  a  Regiment  to  for- 
tify Red  Hook,  and  fome  companies  of  Ri- 
flemen to  the  JcrfcyJhore.  Of  two  boats, 
(belonging  to  two  trtncd  veffcls)  which  at- 
tempted to  take  on  board  fre(h  water  from 
the  waieiing  pMce  on  Staten-IQand,  one  was 

•^PROHIBITION. 

«•  Head  Qnarten,  New- York,  April  8, 1776. 

y  **  The  General  informs  the  inhabitants  that  it  is  be- 
•ome  abfolutely  necelT^ry,  that  all  communication  be- 
tween the  miniilerial  fleet  and  fhore  (hoald  be  immedi- 
afely  ftopped  ;  for  that  purpofe  he  has  given  pofitive  or- 
ders, the  ihips  (hould  no  longer  be  furn^Hied  with  pro- 
viflons.  Any  inhabitants  or  others,  who  fhall  betaken 
that  have  been  on  board  (after  the  publifliing  this.order) 
or  near  any  of  the  (hips  or  going  on  board  will  be  confid- 
ered  as  enemies  and  treated  accordingly. 

<*  All  boats  are  to  fail  from  Beekman*s  flip.  Cap- 
tain James  Alner  is  appointed  Infpe^or  and  will  give 
permits  to  Oyflermen.  It  is  ordered  and  expeded  that 
ftone  attempt  going  without  a  pafs/*         V.*^ 

Isa ABL  Putnam,  Major Oencral in 

in  the  Continental  Army  and  Conr- 

.    ^   mander  in  Cliief of  the  forced  in  New- 


York. 


*K  ;'■■■■ 


,''>?g 


(         "O        ) 


•'^- 


1^ 


driven  off  (by  the  Riflemen)  with  two  or 
three  Teamen  killed  in  it ;  and  the  other  cap«> 
tured  with  thirteen.  A  few  days  afterwards 
Captain  Vandeput  of  the  Afia  man  of  war, 
the  fenior  officer  of  the  fhips  on  this  ftation, 
finding  the  intercoufe  with  the  fhore  inter- 
di6led>  their  limits  contra6ted,  and  that  no 
good  purpofes  could  be  anfwered  by  remain- 
ing there,  failed,  with  all  the  armed  veffels, 
out  of  the  harbor*  Thcfe  arrangements  and 
tranfadions,  joined  to  an  unremitting  atten- 
tion to  the  completion  of  the  4ef<^ces,  gave 
full  fcopc  to  the  adtivity  of  General  Putnam, 
until  the  arrival  of  General  ll^dbington, 
whiph  happened  about  the  middltbf  April/ 

The  Commander  in  Chiefs  in  his  firft  pub- 
lic orders,  "  complimented  ibe  Officers  wbi 
badjucceffively  commanded  at  New-Tork, 
and  returned  his  thanks  to  them  as  well  as 
to  the  Officers  .and  Soldiers  under  their 
command,  for  the  many  works  of  defence 
which  had  been  fo  expeditioufly  ereded : 
at  the  fame  time  he  expreffed  an  expcfta- 
tion  that  the  fame  fpirit  of  zeal  for  the  fer- 
vice,  would  continue  to  animate  their  fu- 
ture condudl." — Putnam,  who  was  then 
the  only  Major  General  with  the  main  army, 
had  ftill  a  chief  agency  in  forwarding  the  for- 
tificacions;  and>  with  the  affiilance  of  the 


cc 
cc 
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cc 
cc 
ti 
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<t 


"■>«. 


( 


121 


) 


Brigadiers  Spencer  and  Lord  Sterling,  in  af- 
figning  to  the  different  Corps  their  alarm 
Pofts. 

Congress  having  intimated  a  defire  of 
confulting  with  the  Commander  in  Chief  on 
the  critical  pofture  of  affairs,  His  Excellency 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  accordingly,  and  was 
abfent  from  the  twenty-firft  of  May  until  the 
fixth  of  June.  Genelral  Putnam,  who  com- 
manded in  that  intenf^al,  had  it  in  charge  to 
open  all  letters  direded  taXjeneral  Wafhing- 
ton  on  public Jervkei^iniy  if  important,  after 
regulating  his  condudt  by  tHeir  contents,  to 
forwardtiiem  by  exprefs ;  to  expedite  the 
works  then  erecting  ;  to  begin  others  which 
were  fpecified  i  to  eflablifh  fignals  for  com- 
municating an  alarm ;  to  guard  againft  the 
poffibility  of  furprize  j  to  fecure  well  the 
Powder-Magazine  5  to  augment  by  every 
means  in  his  power  the  quantity  of  Cartridg- 
es ;  and  to  fend  Brigadier  General  Lord  Ster- 
ling to  put  the  PofVs  in  the  Highlands  into  ^ 
proper  condition  of  defence.  He  had  alfo 
a  private  and  confidential  inflru^ion  to  afford 
whatever  aid  might  be  required  by  the  Pro- 
vincial Congrefs  of  New- York  for  apprehend- 
ing certain  of  their  difaifedled  citizens :  and 
as  it  would  be  moft  convenient  to  take  the 
detachment  for  this  fcrviec  from  the  troops 


,.fj^i 


(vv       122  ) 


en  Long-Iftant?,  under  comfmimcl  of  Briga- 
dier General  Greene,  k  was  re'comgiendcd 
that  this  officer  iliould  be  advifed  of  the  plan, 
and  that  the  execution  (hould  be  conducted 
with  fecrecy  and  celerity,  as  well  as  wi'fh  de- 
cency and  good  order.  In  the  records  of  the 
army  arc  prcfrrved  the  daily  Orders  which 
xtrete  ilTued  in  the  abfence  of  the  .Commander 
in  Chief,  who,  on  hi^  return,  was  not  onl^  fa- 
tt^fied  that  tH<!^  works  hiii^  been  profeciited  with 
liil  poifible  difpatchy  bli|a]^  that  the  other 
duties  fiad  been  propcr^^tftfe^gcd*  ^^         \ 


.iv 


It  waithc  hrter  end  <^  JvH^^mi^  the 

Pritifti  fleer,  which  had  been  at  HaKfA  wait- 

j.|ng  for  reinforcements  from  Europe,   began 

^§PK)  arrive  at  New-York.     To  obftru^  itj>  ^^af- 

ftgp  fottic  marine  preparations  had  been  made. 

Ckncral  Putnam,  to  whom  the  diredionsof 

tSie  whale   boats,   fire  rafts,    flat-bottomed 

J^ats  and  armed  veflelsr  was  cpmmitted,    af- 

^^.^Sbirdcd  his  patronage  to  a  projedl  for  deftroy- 

:'^^;  wing  the  enemy's  (hipping  by  exploiion.      A 

?  *  Machine,  altogether  different  from  any  thing 

.rv  hitherto  devifcd  by  the  art  of  man,  had  been  ' 

ihvented  by  Mr.  David  Bu&ntU*,  ioiJUima' 

*  David  Bttlhnell«  A.  M.'  of  Sj^ybrook  m  0^iiwti^^^ 
x.'ox,  iaveAted  feveral  other  machines  for  th^  «l^;f^ii9ce 
of  ^ipoiag ;  thefe  from  accidenU*  not  mibtatii^i^afnft 
thepkaofophical  priiicapl«i»  on  wMch  tl^  i^^^'iie* 


'P'^-':f: 


•jj;*** 


*M- 


(         »23         ) 


finf  natigatiofi,  which  was  found  to  anfvvcr 
th€  purpofe  pcrfei^y  6f  rowing  horizontally 
at  anjiigiven  depth  under  water,  and  ofrit- 
ing  o@Kiking  at  pleafure.  To  this  Mashifie 
(called  the  American  Turtle)  was  attached  a 
Magazine  of  Pow^^r,  vfh'ich  it   was  intended 


pended,  only  partially  fucceeded.  He  defiroyed  a  vrfTel 
in  the  charge  of  Commodore  Syoimoids,  wMc  report  to 
the  Admiral  was  gubliih«d.  One  of  his  ki|gi(«&I^ro  de~ 
XDoliftied  a  veifelneaF  the  Lo»g-Iiland  ibbre.  Aboat 
ChriUmas  1777  he  oonaijlted  to  theDeUware  a  namber 
of  Kegs,  deilincdto  fall  ainong  the  Britiih  fleet  at  Phila- 
deljphia :  bat  his  ^<iaid#l^i  ofKega*  havingbeen  feparatcd 
and  r^rded  by'^m  »c»  demmiihed  but  a  Sigk  boat#^^ 
This  cataHrO^h^A  h(Swev«r^  pfodiieed  an  alat a;  iinpre^ 
eedentei  im  tUAatiife  andleprc^^^  «(fhich  haa  Wen  (b 
happily  ffiHeirib^^  in  the  fubieqtl^tttSongby  theH^ 
Franeis  Itbpkinfon,  that  the  event  it  celebratet 
not  be  fbrgotton  fo  long  as  mankind  {bail  continus  to 
delighted  with  works  of  h^moar  and  tafte  : 

The  battle   of  the  l^egs   :— a   Song.— Tone  fticj 

Lawder. 

GALLANTS,  attend,  and  hear  a  fric^td 

Trill  forth  harmonious  ditty  : 
Strange  things  I'M  tell,  which  late  befell 

In  Philadelphia  ci(^.  '^ 

'   '^'    'z  '  '  '  k"  i 

•  i.    •.  -'        -  T'-'"'  ■  ■  -  - 

'Twaoariy  day,  as  poets  (ay,     '  ■  K, 

Juft  when  the  fun  was  rifing,        ,  ::, 
jClbldier  ftood  on  log  of  wood, 
:    .     And  faw  a  fight  furpriftng. 

J^iiti  a  Qiaze,  he  ftood  to  gaze. 

The  truth  can*t  be  deniad.  Sir,. 


.  *<--.■ 


■■■■*■ -H^-'-i 


'^^':.  ft/^i>- 


i-..' 


.>^,.-v' 


It^i 


:i', 


«...»«»f<» , 


(       *24      ) 


.•lr:-.';vi. 
'*?•■.■■■ 


.? 


'^f* 


to  be  faftened  under  the  bot^im  of  t  fhip 
with  a  driving  (crew ;  in  fiich Kbrt;  |that  the 
fame  (Iroke  which  difengaged  it  flte  the 
Machine  ihould  put  the  internal  ^clqHhWork 


Mi§Jl^  a  fcore  of  ]K^«gi  or  more, 
-Cpme  floating  down  the  tidcj  Sir. 

Afailor*  faei^iii  je^ln  bltte« 

llii^iiie  i^arance  viewine, 

JFlrlldamii'ti  Ikueyet,  in  great  riirj»riz«# 
|%fii  ^^'*  $mit  i^pitTf  brewing, 


s- 


f> 


:;5i^^£rar'd  almoft  to  death,  %, 
"^^^^  their  ihoe«,  to  fpread  the  news  p 
M^  ran  till  out  of  breathy  Sir^ 


1,  '^  *  .?Silf  i 


kh^% 


;jip  aiif^  down,  throughout  thfi  town, 
^^  V  ^Ml^l^l'^  frantic  fcencs  were  afled  : 
^c'^^ra  ^^  ^^"^  ^^''^  ^^^  fox^e  rad  there»^ 
^*^'**  ££^  jj^gjj  almoft  diftra^ed*  ^ 


*--i..-iJ^. 


4^*  -V  ^* 


p-^^  ,^_^'^Pie  cried,  which  f^me  dentedt 

m*l      ^^^M^^  '^^^  ^^^^*  ^^^  Bideous  lioifev 
y\         lUl  through  the  town  half  naked. 

P .  ^ :,  Sir  Wftliam  ||  he,  fnug  i»€ttA, 
T'^^iii^"      ^^5^  *^^  ^"  tiiae^a  fnori»^  j^ 


^F^^^H  Sir  WUHam  Howe.    > 

s  fa  'W 


•'« 


( 


1 


'^'^'^ 


-  C    «^s    ) 

ih  moftiofi.  This  being  done>  the  ordinarf . 
t>per4ti(iis  of  agufi-lock  (at  the  <di(lance  6f 
half  anhour^  an  hour»  or  ariy  determinate 
time)- would  caufe  the  powder  to  explode  and 
leave  the  effe(5ts  to  the  common  laws  of  na^ture. 
The  fimplicity,  yet  coalbi nation  difc^cred 
. '■■'         *  .-  *      ' 

Nor  dreamt  of  ba  rm ,  as  be  lay  warm ' 
111  bed  with  Mrsvli*'r*i:g.      . 


f« 


Arifc  1  arife  I"  Sir  Er&ine  criat  e  !^5^0^"S 

**  The  rebel»-«mor€*sihc|:ity-*.-    :„J3^Sa2  ;'^^ 

Without  a  boat',  are  ajl  on  fhiai,    ^  -*<P?^^'  v~%i^ 
"  Md  rangM  bcfoie  tWcitf . 


k»V.  ^ 


**  iThe  moxlsr  crcw>  jn,r*ir5li 

#  With  Saian  foi#S^g«ide,  .$__ 
M  up  in  bag4;or^ftw<tep:'is.«^^k.i^ 
Gome  <ij^iving.  06^19^%^,,^^^ 

w^v^;  :*^.Aad  Wti<H;:^N!^  <|^i»M^ 


.••^.<T. 


i^'i^ 


fc'v  ; 


#3 


<m 


i    ti$    ) 


■♦-• 


:*^' 


in  the  mechanifm  of  tnis  wonderful  machine> 
/  were  acknowledged  by  thofc  (killed  in  Piiyf- 
icks,  and  particularly  Hydraulics,  to  be  not 
lefs  ingenious  than  novel.     The  liiventor^ 

The^yal  band  new  ready  (land, 

^  a!)  rang'd  in  dread  array.  Sir, 
WitH  ftoinacn's  (lout,   to  fee  it  out. 
And  make  a  bloody  day.  Sir. 

11«c«|inon9  roar  A4m  Ihore  to  Ih^re  s 
The fmall iirins  t^p,)$ig t" 

i  wart  began,  rmXi^i 

^Withr 


.\ 


l^ 


•lit  Jfh  be)ow  fwam  to  and  fro, 
«4^t.     Attack 
fl  *«  Wi^  fnrf ,"  thoughujbey,  "  the  DevTs  to  pay 
""      ^<*  Motigit  folks  alove  the  water." 


8,  *ti«  fai4,  though  ftiongly  made 
;l>elftaves  and  hoops.  Sir, 
^   „  ^    not  oppoi^  their  powerful  foes, 
^•C^»e  CQnqu'ring  Bntifti  troops,  Sin 


i«U)rn  to  night,  thofe  men  of  mighty 
^^'^it    jDtlpjayM  amazing^  f<i!]iiraj^  ; 
'•^  ^>^  \?ik»d  ^-hen  the  Sun  wit  f)iiKdowii, 
^  :^!^  ^r'd  to  fup-  Ifi^prridge. 

.:;i^«*«3&^4fl^i&^|jHver^  fo  ^gd  *^  th^ 

K4iK>fi  ab#ifry. 


:'k-'\ 


i^'"^;  ^ 


I. 


whdle/'M^^pHtioa  was  too  feeble  to  permit 
himtdpcjipin  the  labour  of  rowing,  the  Tur- 
tle, had  ^iy^bt  his  brother  to  iDanage  it  iBi||i 
perfect  ^cmterity  i  but  unfortunately  his  bro- 
ther fell  fick  of  a  fever  juft  before  the  arrival 
ofthcfl^t.  Recourfe  was  therefore  li:j|^ 
a  Serjesii|t  in  the  Gonnedicut  troops  ^  ^li|^^ 
having  received  whatever  inftru^tipns  coi^€' 
be  comnrHijri^ted  t^  him  ia  i^ihort  tincM^ 

went  (tobiitj^it^^ii^        all  the^l^k^ 
ratus  un<*  '•"-"'• -"^•■-  .a  ..,--«...•  .......^  .. 

four  .««.„.^.«™™_»^ 


li^ 


conaedcd  witji  thfefterii;  >^TWi^ 

(q  ^itndfed  men,  witli  each  ai  f  eiu 
Or  more,  upon  mjr  word,  Silfc: 
Itit  moft  true,  woaki  be  tioo  hw,    ^ '' 
^friletr  V'^lour  to  record^  ^1*. 


r''  .^     "''l.-V(lA''i    -        Hf^'  -VHal 


,„;>.*  i  ; 


■■{-* 


Sachftatft  di<l  thejr  pierform  tfcit  day. 

Upon  thofe  wicked  Ke  g 9,  Sir* 
Tluit^eiir j^  to  coinei  if  they  get  home, 

Tl|#>'il  mske  ttteir  boalU  an^^ 

^f%0f«»ppersafii  mmm        '  ^^' 


■*■ 


i'.  -A! 


i*!lf  ■^.'' 


'•sfc--^ 


h-^v 


(    "«1) 

>ci(knrr  added  to  the  drength  of  tide  which 
'prevailed  and  the  want  of  adequate  (kill  iri  che 
Serjeani>  occafioned  fuch  delay  that  the  dawn 
began  to  appear :  whereupon  he  abandoned 
ihe  Magazine  to  c  h  an  cc>  and  (after  gaining  a 
prdfirr  diftance)  for  the  fake  of  eipedicion, 
Fowed  on  the  furface  towards  the  town. 
Gcnerilpucnam^  who  had  been  on  thewhaif 
tnxioudy  expedling  the  refnlt  froiT^  the  fiiil 
gtimmering  of  JigJi^,^  beheld  the  Machine 
near  Goireinor*s  Iuii^|ii^d  fent  a  whale-boat 
to  brlligitoniborc4^  ik#^^  mU 

tmtti&  Jterward^tipriul^^^  anci 

^  blew  a  vaftxCoi^Mii  *f  w^        m  aAzin  (> 
height  %tbfaii04.*s^^ 
boen^cpt  ah  inviolable  lectet,^  he^^l|i^||^ 
little  diverted  with   the.  various  confemircsiv 
whether  this  ftupendodi  nofife  was.pniduceii 
by  a  bomb,  a  mwew^  a  Water-fpout  or  an 
earthquake,     Otm^r  aperacions  of  a  moft  fe- 
rious  nature  rapidly  fiicceeded  and  prevented 
a  repetition  of  the  experiment. 

On  the  twenty-fecond  of  Auguft  the  vaa 
of  "the  Britilh  landed  on  L*ong-Illand,  and 
was  foon  fbUmyed  by  the  Whole  army,,  except 
one  Brigadc*WHeSians,  a  fmallbody  of  Bri- 
iVih  and  fome  convalefcentSj  left  on  ftatea 
Itland.  Our  troops  on  Long  Ifland  had: 
been   commanded  during    th«i  iummer   by_ 


.    (      129  -    ) 


General  Greene>  who  was  now  fick ;  and 
General  Putnam  took  the  command,  but 
two  days  before  the  battle  of  Flatbufh.  The 
Inilru6tions  to  him  (pointing  in  the  6rft 
place  to  decifive  expedients  for  fupprelTing 
the  fcattering,  unmeaning  and  wafteful  fire  of 
our  men)  contained  regulations  for  the  fer- 
vice  of  the  guards,  the  Brigadiers  and  the 
Field  Officers  of  the  day'}  for  the  appoint- 
ment and  encouragement  of  proper  fcouts  i  as 
well  as  for  keeping  il»pneh  conftantly  at  their 
pofts  I  for  p^eveitog  the  burning  of 
bpildii%s  (excej^r  tt'J^iiM  bene^^y  for 
mUityypwpofcUrf^^  privayc, 

piOTcri^A^piQagc  andlO^^  To 

Clit&j|i|jiIations  were  added,   in  a^ofidif- 
Jfufe  though  not  Jefs  fpirited  and  profeflionid 
ilyle,  reflexions  on  the  diftinsftion  of  an  arnriy 
from  a  mob  j  with  exhortations  for  the  Sol- 
diers to  condud  them felves  manfully  in  fuct ' 
a'caufe,  and  for  their  Commander  to  oppolc 
the  enemy's  approach  with  detachments  of 
his  befl:  troops  :  while  he  fhould  endeavor  to 
render  their  advance  more  difficult  by  con- 
ilrudlin^  abattis,  and  to  entrap  their  partiet  i 
J>y  forming  ambufcades.      General  Putnann 
was  within  the  lines,  when  an^  engagement 
took  place  on  thea7th,  between  the  BritifhiV 
army  and  our  advanced  Corps,  in  which  w«- 
Igft  about  a  thoufand  men  i|^  killed  and  milT- 


'M 


V 


\ 


(      »30      ) 


'4 


jina:,  ^ith  the  Generals  Sullirin  and   Lord 

1^  Sceriing  made   prifoners.   •    But   our   mcrn 

(though  attacked^)!!  ail  fides)   fought  with 

great  bravery  -,  and  the  enemy's  loTft  was  not 

light. 


Tkc  unfortunate  battle  ofLong  IHind,  the 
mallerly  retreat  fronn  thence  and  the  adlual 
paffage  of  part  of  the  hoflile  fleet  in  the  Eafl 
River  above  the  Town,preluded  the  cvacua- 
tion  of  New-York»  ^^  proqnotbn  of  four 
Major's  Qcneral  and  fix  Brigadiers  had  pre- 
▼iottfly  befii  made  b;^  Ocingrcft.  <4iler  tli|e 
jetreac  fromljcmp^MI^  con- 

^^i^lti!^  ^^  1^^  of jixty  iii^pili^^^ 
whftm  tjHenty  were  Continental,  A|-r^^ 
Levies  and/Militia)  was,  confornialiF^  to  the 
exigencies  of  the  fervicc,  rather  than  to  th^ 
rules  of  war,  formed  into  fourteen  Brigades. 
Major  General  Putnann  commanded  the 
right  grand  Divifron  of  five  Brigades,  the  Ma- 
jors General  Spencer  and  Greene  the  center 
of  fix  Brigades,  and  Major  General  Heath  the 
left  which  was  pofled  near  Kingffaridge  and 
compofed  of  two  Brigades.  The  whole .  ne- 
ver amounted  to  twenty  thoufand  cfFcAive 
tmti^  while  the  Britifh  and  Gemian  forces 
wrtfd|r  Sir  William  Howe  exceeded  twenty- 
tW<b%houfdnd  ;  indeed  the  Minifter  had  af- 
i^#d  in  Parliament  that  they  would  confift 


t,  .J  Ji' 


i  '^  i 


MJ: 


(       131       ) 

df  more  th«i  thirty  thouftnd.  Our  two  cen- 
ter Divirions>  bodi  commanded  by  General 
Spencer  in  the  fickncfs  of  General  Greenr» 
moved  towards  Mount  Wafhington,  Harlem 
Height*  and  Horn's  Hook,  as  foon  as  the 
final  refoiution  was  taken,  in  a  Council  of 
War,  on  the  twelfth  of  September,  to  aban- 
don the  city.  That  event,  thus  circumdanc- 
ed,  cook  effedk  a  few  days  after. 

On  3uodj|y  ti^c  HfiBfenth  |he  Britilh,  •ftcr 
(endip||di^  ihtep^MM^  up^C  ^Oftli  Rli^ 
ver  tol^liJiotmiiM^  ^fV  f#! 

fome  h0UT%^iiip»tf  caftMl|miT^  oiir 
frorfi  .^mjweadr  in  the  Ejll  River^dld  in 
force l^Pur tie  JBay^^-ovirncw  Levies  com- 
Pmanded  by  a  ftate  Brigadier  General,  fled 
^  without  making  refiftance.  Two  Brigades 
of  General  Putnam's  Dividon,  ordered  to 
their  fupport,  nocwithitanding  the  exertion  of 
their  Brigadiers,  and  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief  himfelf,  who  came  up  at  the  inftant, 
conduced  themfelves  in  the  fame  fhameful 
manner.  His  Excellency  then  ordered  the 
Heights  of  Harlem,  a  (lipng  pOfition,  to  be 
occupied.  Thither  the  forvxs  la^fthe  vicini- 
ty, as  well  as  the  fugirfvff^-f^wredrt^^^^l^ 
m^timeGeneral  Futnmn^vtitii  the  irecn^^ 
dei^fhis  command  and  J^l«i^^>!iry  ^sHi^ 
pofts,  was  in  the  city.    Mxtm^f^c^uMi 


*    J 


^^1^.1 


(      i3«      ) 


the  Brigades  to  begin  their  retreat  by  the  route 
of  Bloom  in  gd  ale,  in  order  to  avoid  the  ene- 
my, who  were  then  in  the  pbfleflion  of  the 
main  road  leading  ro  Kingfbridge,  he  gal- 
loped to  call  off  the  pickets  and  guards. 
Haviag  myfeif  been  a  Volunteer  in  his  Divi- 
fion  and  ading  Adjutant  to  the  lafl:  Regiment 
^hat  left  the  city,  I  had  frequent  opportuni- 
ties that  day  of  fcicholding  him,  for  the  pur- 
pofeof  ilTuing  orders  and  ^couraging  the 
troops,  iying,  on  life  Jjorft  covered  with 
foahv  wherever  his  preftec  vi^  mpft^ece 
^.     VS^itjfe^  his  e^l^ilitsW  tne 

guardsrintj^il^^^^n  Si|B|mi|y^^  and 

it  iiipro^ble  cn^re  Corps  woul|^vc  been  ^ 
cut  in  pieces.  Wh^n  we  ^trc  not  for  from 
Bloomingdale,  an  Aid  de  Camp  came  from 
him  at  full  fpeed  to  inform,  that  a  column  of 
Britifh  Infantry  was  defcending  upon  our  right. 
Gur  rear  was  foon  fired  upon,  and  the  Colonel 
of  our  regiment  (whofe  order  was  juft  com- 
municated for  the  front  to  file  off  to  the  left) 
was  killed  on  the  fpot.  With  no  other  lofs, 
wc  joined  the  army,  after  dark,  on  the. 
Heights  of  Harlem.  \     ' 


Before  our  Brigades  ^Itne  in,  we  were 
given  up  for  loft  by  all  our  friends.  So  cri- 
tical indeed  was  Our  (ituation  and  foK  f^arrow 
the  gap  by  which  m  efc^pedi  tfiai  the  iiiftant 


'V 


(      »33     ^ 

wc  had  paiTed,  the  enemy  clofed  it  by  extend- 
ing their  line  from  river  to  river.  Our  men, 
who  had  been  fifteen  hours  under  arms,  har- 
rafled  by  marching  and  countermarching  in 
confequcnccof  inceflant  alarms,  exhauftcd  as 
they  were  by  heat  and  thirft  (for  the  day  pro- 
ved infupportably  hot  and  few  or  none  had 
canteens,  infomuch  that  fome  died  at  the 
brooks  where  they  drank)  if  attackedi  could 
have  made  but  feeble  refinance* 

Irm  t^ke|p|o  confiderstion  the^^ebUitatin^ 
(ickiteJIs  wkiwwe4kjeiM!d|tlmoft 
the  hard  duqr  fey  vHi(5fc  1^  iifereiR^rn  down 
in  COfifthi^nff  nijimb<?rt^fi  defences,  the  con- 
tinual want  ot  reft  they  had  fuffered  ((ince  the 
enemy  landed)  in  guarding  from  no6turnal 
furprize^  the.defpondency  mfufedinto  their 
minds  by  an  infular  fituation  and  a  confcioii^ 
nefb  of  inferiority  to  the  enemy  in  difciphnei 
together  \irith  the  difadvantageous  terms  upon 
which,  in  their  ftate  of  feparation,  they  might 
have  beto  forced  to  engage ;  it  appears  high- 
ly probable  that  day  would  have  prefented 
.an  eafy  victory  to  the  Britifh.  On  the  other 
fide,  the  American  Commander  in  Chief  had 
wifely  countenanced  lO; opinion,  then  univer* 
fidly  credited^  that  ot|r  army  was  three  times 
iM^re  nuliierbiiitlifttk  was  irreality.    It  hi 


w 


-V'^^L-" 


(      «3+      ) 

« 

ignorant  of  the  exifting  circumftanccs,  IntK 
pofed  upon  as  to  the  numbers  by  reports 
andrecolleding^vhatafew  brave  men,  (light- 
ly entrenched,  had  performed  at  Bunker  HiU, 
ihould  proceed  with  great  circumfpedion. 
Fo^  their  reproaches,  th ait  the  Rebels  (as  they 
affected  to  ftyle  us)  loved  digging  better  than 
jKghting«  and  that  they  earthed  themfelves 
in,  holes  like  foxes,  but  iU  concealed  at  the 
bottom  of  their  own  hearts  th«  profound  im-* 
iprefiion  that  adtion  had  made.  Cheap  and 
eontentptYble  asf^e  hadtHice  ft^med  in  their 
fyea»  i^  had  inoght  them  to  hold  us  ia#>mq 
i^{{^d^  Th^is  lie%f)^  in  c^f^n^^  with  a 
fixed  belief  that  iM^enth^i^iiKic  ifif^of  Our 
Dppofition  mufl:'*'foon  f^iide>  and  that  the 
snexhauilible  refources  of  Britain  would  ulti* 
mately  triumph  without  leaving  any  thing  to 
c^hsHlce  (not  the  avarice  or  treachery  of  the 
^ritifli  General,  as  the  factions  of  his  own 
nation  wifhed  to  infinuate)retarded  their  oper* 
Ution  and  afforded  us  ieifure  to  re^ue  from 
annihilation  the  miferable  relics  of  an  army, 
haftening  to  diifolution  by  the  expiration  of 
enliftments,  and  the  country  itfclf  fromirre- 
Ireivable  fubjugation.     In  truth  w^  arc 

NOT  LESS  INDEBTED  TO  THE  MATTOCK  At 
ONE  PERIOD,  THAN  TO  THE  MUS<iUET  AT 
ANOTHER,   FOR    OUR  POLITICAL  ^ALVATIO^. 

j[c  required  great  talents  IP  deternaioi? 'Wi^ 


J^ 


(    m    ) 


iMi«  or  the  other  was  moft  profitably  to  be 
employed.  I  am  aware  how  fafhionable  it 
has'bccome  to  compare  the  Americafi  Com- 
mander m  Chief,  for  the  prudence  difptayed 
in  thofe  dilatory  and  defenfive  operations,  (o 
happily  profeeuted  in  the  early  ft  ages  of  the 
war,  to  the  illuftrious  Roman,  who-  acquired 
immortality  in  reftoring  the  Comwio»wealih> 
ky  delay.  Advantageous  and  fluttering  as 
the  compariicm  ac  firft  appears^  it  wilt 
be  found  tin  examination  to  ftinc.  the 
Aniimcan  to  t^eifa^talkr  moiety  of  hi&  merited 
fame..  Bid  Ht  i«H  jfi  (cenes.^  al^ftoft  m^ 
parallelied  adivity  ^ov«t  ^^ectii^  of 
tranfcei^^eikt  abi^ties^  md  m^ftc  it  not  be 
proved  to  prof^lonal  men,  that  boldfiefa^ 
in  council,  and  rapidity  in  execution  were, 
at  leaft,  equally  with  prudent  procraftinacion, 
and  the  quality  of  not  being  compelled  to 
adion,  attributes,  of  his  military  genius  ? 
Tbii,  however,,  was  an  occafion,  apparent  aj* 
preiTing,  for  attaining  "his  object  hy,  d^lay. 
From  that  he  had  every  thing  to  gain,,  nothing 
to  lofe.  Yet  there  were  not  wanting  PoHfi:- 
iiansy  AT  THIS  very  tim<e,  who  queruloufly 
blamed  thcfe  Fabim  meaftwres  and  loudly 
clamouTed,.  that  the  Immenfe  labour  and«x- 
pcnce  beftowed  on  the  fortifite#fion  of  New* 
Tork  had  been  thrown  awayj  that,  if  we 
UQuldiiot  face  the  e|iei%  i%*^|^|jtv%J^ 


i'%  r««rit*  ■"  -^hKM  - 


■-■>         «.  ,  vHi  ' 


rW'x...^ 


*    ■  •■     •..•.  .■.■■■-*  ■^. .  i*'^  ... 


(      136      ) 

preparations,  we  might  as  well  relinquifh  the 
conced  at  once,  for  we  could  no  where  make 
a  iland  i  and  thar^  if  General  Waihingcon, 
with  an  army  of  (ixcy  thoufand  men,  ilrongly 
entrenched,  declined  fighting  with  Sir  William 
Howe,  who  had  little  more  than  one  third 
of  that  number,  it  was  not  to  be  expedted  ne 
would  find  any  other  occafion  that  might  in- 
duce him  !o  engage. — But  General  Wafhing- 
ton,  content  to  fufifer  a  temporary  facrificc 
of  perfonal  reputation  for  the  fake  of  fecuring 
a  permanent  advantage  to  his  country,  and 
regardlcfs  of  thofe  idle  clamours  for  whicjh 
he  iiad  furnifiied  materials  by  nbaking  his 
countrymen,  in  order  the  more  eflfeflJuaUy  to 
make  his  enemy,  believe  his  force  much  greater 
than  it  actually  was  j  inflexibly  purfued  his 
fyflem  and  glorioufly  demonftrated  how  poor 
and  pitiful  in  the  eftima$ionof  agreatmind 
I  are  the  cenforious  ftricturcs  of  thofe  Novices 
in  war  arid  politics,  who,  with  equal  rafhnefs 
and  impudence, prcfume  to  decide  dogmatical- 
ly on  the  merit  of  jilans  they  could  neither 
originate  or  comprehend  l-r- 

That  night  our  foldiersexceflively  fatigued 
by  the  fulrry  march  of  the  day,  their  cloaths 
wet  by  a  fevere  Ihower  of  rain  that  fuccecdcd 
towards  the  evening,  their  Wood  chilled  by 
the  cold  wind  that  produced  a  fuddeo^change 


•\ 


c  »w   y 


^the  temperature  of  the  air,  and  their  hearts- 
funk  within  them  by  the  lofs  of  baggage,. 
actiliery,.  and  works  in  which  they  had  been 
taught  to  put  great  conftdence>.  lay  upon< 
their  arms>:  covered  only  by  the  clouds  of  an 
uncomfortable  ficy.     To  retrieve  our  dif- 
0Fded  afikirs  and  prevent  the  enemy  from 
profiting  by  them,  no  exertion  was  relaxed^. 
no  vigilance  Femitted  on  the  pait  of  our  high- 
er officers.    The  Regiments  which  had  beeip 
lloaft  expofed  to  fatigue  tlifat  day,,  furnifhed; 
ttienecefi^  biq^ets^  to  iccure  the  army  fronr.^ 
(arpini/c.    Tnote,,  whofe  militaiy  liv^s  hadi 
been  (hpit  and  unpra^ced,  felt  enough  be- 
ftdeil^lkutdeof  bcxty  tc^#(c^ 
%uilIity|^theiritep0fe*^l?or  had  thole,  who* 
•wei^  older  in  ftrvice  and  of  more  experience, 
any  fubje(5i^  for  a>nfolation4     The  warmth 
t  of  enthuiiafm.  feemed  to   be  extinguifhed. 
The  force  of  difcipline  had  not  fufficiently 
occupied  its  place  ta  give  men  a  dependence 
upon  each  other^  '  We  were  apparently  about 
to  reap  the  bitter  fruits  of  that  jealous  policy,, 
which  fome  leading  men  (with  the  beft  mo- 
tives), had  fown  in  our  foederal  councils,  when* 
they  caufed  the  motte  to  be  adopted,  for 
carrying  onthe  war  by  detachments  of  militia ;. 
feom  appriehcnfion  that  an  eff»bliihed  Con- 
tiocntal  army,  aftci'  defending  the  country 


.  againflt  foreign  in vafion, 

M  X 


feibvert  iifc 


-■  -i'. •■•'•if «*»^ ■»;-■;  ,"■  ■- 


av 


\i    . 


('    »3«      ) 

liberties  themfelves.  Paradoxical  as  it  will 
appear»  it  may  be  profitable  to  be  known  to 
pofterity,  that^  while  our  very  exiftenC'e  as  an 
independent  people  was  in  queftion,  the 
patriotic  jealoufy  for  the  fafety  of  our  future 
freedom  had  been  carried  to  fuch  a  virtuous^ 
but  dangerous  excefs,  as  well  nigh  to  pre- 
clude Uit  attainment  of  our  Independence* 
Happily  that  limited  and  hazardous  iyflem 
foon  gave  room  to  one  more  enlightened  and 
falutary .  This  may  be  attrib^wtb  the  rei- 
terated arguments,  the  Qpim^'i^^ 
iKid  the  cooli^enti^^^  th^ 

Cotofinypnckr  in  Cliiifi  -^i^^^t^^ 
|o  dclpmr  of^^  Reinibll^lfi  ihiij^ 
ptpreued  himfelf  1^  li^ill^fluAm  ddjp^n- 
dcncj. .  He  declanid  Ja  his  letters  thiirhe 
found,  to  his  utter  ailoniihment  and  mortiii- 
cation,  that  no  reliance  could  b^  placed  on  a 
great  proportion  of  his  prefent  troops»  and 
that,  unlefs  efficient  meafures  for  eftabliming 
a  permaneht  force  fhould  be  fpeediiy  purfued^ 
we  bad  every  reafon  to  fear  the  final  rpin  of 
our  caufe. 

Njext  morning  fcveral  parties  of  the  ene- 
my appea.ed  upon  the  plains  in  our  front. 
On  receiving  this  intdligcnce.  General  Wafh- 
ingtcn  rode  quickly  to  the  out  poft*,  /or  the 
purpofe  of  preparing  againft  an  attack^  if  ihip 


m 


t^  ^' 


(      «35      ) 


V 
•^ 


enemy  (hould  advance  with  that  defigii. 
Lieutenant:  Colonel  Knowlton's  Rangers  fa 
fine  feledion  from  the  eaftern  Regiments), 
who  had  been  (kirmifhing  with  an  advanced 
party>  camt  in  and  informed  the  General  that 
a  body  of  Britifh  were  under  cover  of  a  fmall 
eminence  at  no  confiderable  diP^^hce,  Hia 
Excellency,  willing  to  raife  o^r  men  from 
their  dc^6tion  by  the  fplender  of  fome  little 
fuccefs,^  ordered*  Lieutenant  Colonel  Knowl- 
ton  withlh^^  lUngers,  and  Major  Leitch  widi 
three  Co^ipaiiiiidf  Weedon't  Refftment  of 

jmw  fiiQii^^  attack  il^ 

^^^^'"^^^^^K^^  iaw .  the  '(itib^ft 
^  tfaemi  tiiP^|ypif»^  iswn 

ilt,^  took  poiTeffioti  of  fomefencciand  bul 

es>  and  commenced  a  briik  firing  at  long  (ho^. 

Unfortunately  S^nowlton  and  Leitch  made 

their  onfet  rather  in  fiank  than  in  rear.    The 

enemy  changed  their  front  and  the  ftirmift^ 

at  once  becanie  clofe  and  warm*     Major 

*Lcitch  having  rc^ceived  three  balls  through 

his  ftde  was  foon  H^e  from  the  field,  and 

Colonel  Knowltoni^wha  had  diftingui(hc4 

himfelf  fo  gallantly  at  the  battle  of  Bunker- 

Hill)  was  mortally  wounded  immediiitely  af- 


V 


:j^>  *, 


|i  locked  jaw*  .  r.;;^      ^^" 


**.<■ 


(      t4o      > 


f 


I 


tcr.    Their  men,  however^    undaunted^  hf 
thefe  difafters^  ftimulated  with  thethirftof  re* 
venge  for  the  lofs  of  their  leaders,,  and  con-^ 
fcious  of  acting  under  the  eye  of  the  Com- 
snander  in  Chief>.  maintained  the  con^flidk  wi^b 
vnconunon  fpirit  and  perfeverance^    Eut  the 
General,  feeing  them  in  need  of  fupport,.  ad- 
vanced part  of  the  Maryland  Regiments  of 
''Grifikb  and  Richardfon,  together  with  fome 
detachments  from  fuch  eau:ern'  Corps^»   as 
chanced  fiobe  moft  contiguous  tothpplaceof 
i£Hon.    Our  troops  tKi&  day^  withom  except 
lion,  behaved  with  the  greate^  tntrepidity.  S|a 
bravel^y  did  they  repulfe  the  Brh*i^«.  that  Sir 
Wirti«tt  Howe  moved  his  .R#^rrt;r  with  two. 
^l^ljl^e^^  a  battalion  of  Heffian    Grena*^ 
die^i  and%^mpany  of  Challeurs  to  iuccour 
lus  rctreati^  troopSi-    General  Wa(bingcon„ 
not  willing  to  draw  on  a  general  a^on^v  de* 
dined  prefling  fihe  purfuit,      Ixy  ;his  ei^age- 
ment  were  the  iecond  and  third  Battalions  of 
Ught  Infantry,  the  forty-fecond  Briiilh  Re- 
giment and  the  Gierman  Ghaffeurs^  of  whomi 
eight  ^0cei»s  and  upwa^  of  fevency  privates* 
^f«  wounded*  and  our  jpeo|^e  buried  nwly 
twciity  who  were  left  deaa  on  the  field.  ■ 
hf^  aboiit  forty  wounded :.  our  lofs  in  kil 
except  of  two  valuable  Offiicers>  was  very  ia 
^  confiderabic*  ^        '  "  ^ 


i 


(      I4X      ) 

An  *  advantage,  fo  trivial  in  itfelfy  pro- 
duced, in  event,  a  furprifing  and  almoft  in- 
credible cffed  upon  the  whole  ?»-my.  A- 
mong  tiie  troops  not  engaged,  who  during  the 
a^ion  were  throwing  earth  from  the  new 
trenchef ,  with  an  alacrity  that  indicated  a  de* 
termination  to  defend  them,  every  vifage  was 
fecn  to  brighten,  and  to  affume,  inftead  of  the 
gloom  of  defpair,  the  glow  of  animation. 

*  A  tranfcript  from  General  Wa(hington*i  Pablic 
Orders  of  the  (eventeenth,  will,  better  than  any  other 
.docuntent  that  could  be  adduced,  {hew  hit  fentimant  oa 
the  condnA  of  the  two  preceding  days  and  how  fervent- 
ly he  wiihed  to  fofter  the  good  dupofitions  difcovered  oa 
thelaft. 

««  O  R  D  E  R  S. 
'*  HeadQaarters,  Harlem  Heights, Sept.  17, 1776. 
■*^\  Parole  Leitch.  Counterfign  Virginia. 

*<  The  General  mod  hiArtily  thanks  the  troops  com- 
manded yefterday  by  Major  Leitch,  who  6rft  advanced 
vptjin  the  enemy,  and  the  others  who  fo  refolutety  fup- 
ported  them.  The  behaviour  yeiierday  was  fach  a  con- 
trail to  that  of  feme  of  the  troops  the  day  before,  m 
aauft  ihew  what  may  be  done  where  Officers  and  Soldiei^ 
will  exert  themfelves.  Once  more,  therefore,  the 
General  calls  upon  Officers  and  Men,  to  ad  up  to  the 
noble  caufe  in  which  they  are  engaged^  and  to  fuppo^ 
the  A«»0r  and /<i«rnV^  of  their  Country.'' 

'*  The  gallant  and  bra%e  Colonel  Knowtton,  who 
would  have  oeen  an  honor  to  aiiy  Country,  having  falfin 
yefterday  while  glorioufly  fighting  ;  Captain  Brown  is  to 
ake  the  Command  of  the  party  lately  led  by  Cobfttl 
[nowlton.  Officers  aod  men  are,(o  obey  him  accord- 
ingly,** '     ^ 


(       *4a      ) 

This  change,  no  Icfs  fudden  than  happy,  left 
little  room  to  doubt  that  the  men,  who^  ram 
the  day  "before  at  the  fight  of  an  cnenny,  would 
now  (to  wipe  away  the  (lain  of  that  difgrace 
and  to  recover  the  confidence  of  their  Gener- 
al) have  condu(Sled  thennfelves  in  a  very  dif- 
»  fcrent  manner.  Some  alteration  was  made  in 
the  diftribmion  of  Corps  u>  prevent  the  Bri- 
tish from  gaining  either  Hank  in  the  fucceed- 
ingnight.  General  Putnam,  who  command- 
ed on  the  right,  was  directed  in  orders,,  in  cafe 
the  enemy  ihould  attempt  to  force  the  paf^, 
to  apply  for  a  reinforcement  to  General  Spes^- 
eer,  who  commanded  on  the  left* 

Geneaal  Putnam^  who  was  too  good  a. 
hufbandman  himfelf  not  to  have  a  refpc^  for 
the  labors  and  improvements,  of  others,  ftre- 
.hupufly  fecgmded  the  views  of  the  Commanc|; 
vjn  Chifl^in  preventing  the  devaftation   of 

firms  aad  the  violation  of  private  property. 
or  under  pretext  that  the  property  in,  this 
4u^^^t  belonged  to  friends  to  the  Britifli  go- 
vernment (as  indeed  it  moftly  did)  a  fpirit  of 
^rapine  and  licentioufnefs  began  to  prevail, 
which,,  unlefs  repreflfed  in  the  beginning,  fcre- 
'|)iQ4ed,  belides  the  fubverfion  of  difcipline,the 
dtfgrace  and  defeat  of  our  arms. 


Our.  new  defences  now^  becomin 


ODg 


«:;■<?;■ 
m 


(       H3      ) 


as  not  to  admit  in fult  with  impunity,  and  Sir 
William  Howe,  not  choofing  to  place  too 
much  at  rtfque  in  attacking  us  in  front,  on 
the  I2th  day  of06bober,  leaving  Lord  Piercy 
with  one  Hellian  and  two  Britifb  Brigades  in 
his  lines  atHarlem  to  cover  New-York^  em- 
barked with  the  nnain  body  of  his  army  with 
an  intention  of  landing  at  Frog's  Neck,  (ituated 
near  the  town  of  Weft  Chcfter  and  little  more 
than  a  league  above  the  communication  cal- 
led King's  bridge,  which  con neds  New- York 
Idand  with  the  main.  There  was  nothing^ 
oppofe  him }  and  he  effected  his  debarkation 
by  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Tht  farne 
policy  of  keeping  our  army  as  compa^  lui 
poQblej  the  famt  {y6:cm  of  avoiding  being 
forced  to  a6bion  $  and  the  fame  precaution  to 

i prevent  the  interruption'  of  fupplie^, 
brcements  or  retreat,  that  lately  didat( 
evacuation  of  New-York,  now  induced 
^ral  Wafhinf  ton  to  move  towards  the  fti 
grounds  in  die  upper  part  of  Weft  ChciCG 
£ounty.  i 

About  the  feme  liipc,.  General  „ 
was  lent  to  the  wefterii  ^fe  of  the  Hu^, 
provide  againft^n  irruption  into  the  Jt^fc,^ 
and  foon  after  to  Philadelphia'  to  put  tbji| 
town  imo-apofture  of  defence; -Thighe   ^ 
tttcftd  him,  without  ftopping  toMam  on 

-.,;  />.**.'•  "■"•■■•:. 

■  ,  .J.     "  "SI"     ■ 

■ '    ■  -      ''■*'-  '-  ". Vt  ■  ■ 
*  ■■        ■  .     -  — *  . **  » «  '■*-:  Ul*!^' ' ;.-       ,^.>jk^ 


* 


v.:.* 


f 


(       X44       ) 


it 


fubfcqucnt  incidents  that  might  fwcll  a  folio, 
though  here cornprefTed  to  a  Tingle  paragraph: 
^without  attempting  to  give  in  detail  the  fkilU 
ful  retrograde  movements  of  our  Command- 
er in   Chief,  who,  after  detaching  a  Garrifon 
for  Fort  Walhington,  by  preoccupying  with 
extemporaneous  redoubts  and  entrenchments 
the  ridges  from  Mile-Square  to  fTbite  Plains, 
and  by  folding  one  Brigade  behind  another  in 
rear  of  thofe  ridges  that  run  parallel  with  the 
Simnd^  brought  off  all  his  Artillery,  Scores  and 
Sick,  in  the  face  of  a  fuperior  foe :    without 
commenting  on  the  partial  and, equivocal  bat- 
tle fought  near  the  laft  mentioned  village,  or 
the  caufe  why  the  Britilh,  then  in  full  force 
(for  the  laft  of  the  Heffian  Infantry  and  Bri- 
tifh  Light-Horfe  had  juft  arrived)  did  not 
l|^;p  feriouQy  endeavor  to  induce  a  general 
"^^tugagement :  without  journalizing  their  mi- 
litary manoeuvres  in  falling  back  to  Kingf* 
bridge,   capturing  Fort  Wafhfcgton,    Fort 
Lee,  and  marching  through  the  Jerfeys :  with- 
out enumerating  the  inftances  of  rapine,  mur- 
ders lull  and  devaftation,   that  marked  their 
pitM^fs^  and  filled  our  bofoms  with  horror 
and  indignation :  without  defcribing  how  a 
divi(ion  ofourdiflblvingarmy,  with  General 
Waihington,  was  driven  before  them  beyoud 
the  Delaware :    without  painting  thi;  naked 
'  and  forlorn  condition  of  thefe  much  enduring 
men>  amidft  the  rigors  of  an  inclement  Tcafon; 


v^^     I 


(      »45      ) 

and  without  even  (ketching  the  confterna* 
tion  that  fcized  the  States,  at  this  perilous  pe- 
riod, when  General  Lee  (in  leading  from  the 
North  a  fmall  reinforcement  to  our  troops) 
was  himfelf  taken  prifoner  by  furprize)  when 
every  thing  feemea  decidedly  declining  to  the 
laft  extremity,  and  when  every  profpedb ,  but 
ferved  to  augment  the  deprelfion  of  defpair^— 
until  the  genius  of  one  man,  in  one  day^  tia 
Tingle  ftroke>  wreiled  from  the  veteran  h^" 
talions  of  Britaiaand  Germany  the  fruits  i<^ 
quired  by  ch^  total  operations  of  a  fuccefsful 
canfipaign,  and  reanimated  the  expiring  hope 
of  a  whole  niiiof)»  by  the  glorious  enterprize 
atTxeo^. 


,"»^V 


WKlc  the  hoftite  1|rces,  raflily  inflated 
wicht)ride  by  a  feriei  of  uninterrupted  fuc« 
eeifes,  and  fondly  dreaming  that  a  peflo^ 
would  foon  be  put  to  theiriabors  by  the  com- 
pletion of  their  conquefts,  had  been  purfuing 
the  wretched  remnants  of  a  difbanded  army 
to  the  banks  of  the  Delaware :  General  Put- 
nam was  diligently  employed  in  fortifying 
Philadelphia,  the  capture  of  which  appeared 
indubitaoly  to  be  their  principal  objed^. 
Here,  by  authority  and  example,  he  ftrovc  to 
conciliate  contending  (a£|;ions^  siiid  to  excite 
the  citizefis  to  uncommon^efFori^mdt^^eof 
cv^y  thing  intereftinff  to  Erifi:ti^o|^^^     J^ 


'^ 


<   t4^   ) 

Ipcrfonal  induflry  was  unparallelled.  Hi« 
^Orders  with  refpeA  to  cxtinguifhing  acci- 
•dental  fires,  a.lvancing  the  public  works,  as 
well  as  ifi  regard  to  other  important  objedbs 
W€re  p>crfed]y  military  and  proper.  But  his 
health  was^  for  a  while,  impaired  by  his  un- 
f«lax!6d  exertions. 

'  TxHE  Commander  in  Chief^  having  in  fpitc 
^(^all  obftacles  made  good  his  retreat  over  the 
jillaware,  wrote  to  General  Putflam  (from 
4iis  Camp  above  the  FaHs  of  Ttciiton,  on  tl^c 
#ciy  day  he  fccfbffed  the  i-ivcr  tbliirprife  the 

"■'■'■".  v.  ''■*■'.  .  ■        '  ■  -  ■      ■ 

''*  As  #^diiien;t]ie  foHowiiig^ is  preferxtdi 


«« 


Head  Qgartei^iiiIadelpbia,JD<c.  if^y^y^, 

«v  Colonel  Griffin  is  mapointed  Adjutant  General  t$ 
tne  troops  in  and  about  tAi»  cky>  All  Orders  from  the 
General,  through  him,  either  written  or  verbaL  are  to 
ht  iiri&ly  attended  to  and  punctually  obeyed,   ^ 

**  4n  cafe  of  an'alarm  of  fire,  the  city  guards  and  pa- 
tnc^s-veto  fufferthe  inhabitanu  to  pafs  unmolefted  at 
any  hoijr  of  the  night  $  and  the  good  people  of  Philadel- 
phia are  earneftly  requeued  and  defired  to  give  every  af- 
fiftancein  their  power,  with  engines  and  bucketi,  toex- 
tinguifh  the^re.  And,  m  the  Congrefs  have  ordered 
the  City  to^lie  defended  to  the  laft  extremity,  the  Gen- 
eral hopes  that  no  perlon  will  refiife  t6  give  every  af- 
fiftanee  poUible  to  complete  the  Fortifications  that  are  to 
lie  erefted  in  and  about  the  City. 


ry, 


'■¥ 


Heflians)  cxpreflVng,  his  fatisfddion  at  thcre^ 
fftablifhmcntof  thatGfneral's  hcakhi  and  in- 
forming that,  if  he  had  not  himfeif  been  v/cW 
convinced  before  of  the  enemy's  intention  to 
pofTefs  thennfelves  of  Philadelphia,  as  foon  as 
the  froft  ihould  form  ice  (trong  enough  tx> 
tntnfport  them  and  their  artillery  acrofs  the 
Delaware,he  had  now  obtained  an  intercepted 
letter  which    placed   the  matter  beyond  a 
doubt.     He  added  that,,  if  the  citizens  of 
Philadelphia  had  any  regard  for  the  town,  noc 
a  moment's  tvmt  was  to  be  lo^  until  it  fhould 
be  put  in  the  bfeft  podible  pofture  of  defence  t 
but>  leaA  tdhat  fh^uld  not  be  done„  be  direded. 
the  removal  of  alt  pu^ic  $|<M:es,  fj^cept  pro- 
viiions  i^Siafy  foi^  ifnnnediitti  ii|^^ 
of  grdpp  (ecuritjri^   i^  whether,   if 

apari^  of  Militia  ^^^%e  fent  irdm  Phila- 
ft^|^»tt  to  Ajpport  tlilBt^  the  jcrfeys  about 
W&int  Holly,  it  would  not  ferve  to  fave  them 
from  fubmiflion  ?  At  the  fame  time,,  he  fig- 
nified  (as  his  opinion)  the  expediency  offend-- 
ing  an  aftive  and  influential  Ofiicer  to  infpi- 
m  the  people,  to  encourage  them  to  affembte 
in  arms,  as  well  as  to  keep  thofe  already  in 
arms  from  difl^anding ;  .  and  concluded  by 
manifctting  a  wi(h   that  Golpn^"  Forman^, 
whom  he  defircd  to  fee  for  thispurpofe,7night. 
he  employed  on  the  fervice-. 


# 


!»•■:. 


*■rt•ft^,^ 


'  ^M^"::- 


(     u«     ) 


::*'■■ 


The  enemy  had  vainly  as  incautioufly  inv. 
agined  that  to  overrun  was  to  conquer.  They 
had  even  parried  their  prefumption  on  ofiir 
extreme  weaknefs  and  exptdted  fubmiflTion^ 
fo  far  as  to  attempt  covering  the  count ry^ 
through  which  thev  had  marched,  with  an  ex- 
tenfive  chain  of  Cantonments.  That  link, 
ivhich  the  poft  at  Tren  ton  fu pp\  ied,  conMed  of 
a  Hedian  Brigade  of  infantry,  a  Company  of 
ChafTeurs,  a  Squadron  of  Light  Dragoons 
and  fix  Field  Pieces.  At  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-fixth  of  Pecem- 
ber.  General  Washington,  with  twenty-fo\^r 
Ituitdred  m<rn,  cairie  upon  theqa^  (afer  they 
ibad  parad<^)  t^  erne  ihc>u^ii4  prifon«rs, 
and repafled  thefSimi^  ^0%^  his 

cncampnient.     J^^  trom^  were 

recovered  fronnti^||g||prive  fatigu^#ej|er» 
al  Walbington  rec^lid  a  fecond  t])^f||to 
Trenton.  On  tht^lecond  of  January,  fiW 
Cornwaliis  with  the  bulk  of  the  Britilb  army 
advanced  upo^  him,  cannonaded  his  pod,  and 
offered  him  battle :  but,  the  two  armies  being 
feparated  by  the  interpoOtion  of  Trenton 
Creek,  General  Wafhington  had  it  in  his  op- 
tion to  decline  an  engagement;  which  iie  did 
for  the  Take  of  linking  the  mafterly  ftroke 
that  he  then  meditated.  Having  kindled 
frequent  fires  around  his  camp,  pofted  faithfal 
meato  keep  them  burning,  and  advanced 


'  ff 


C    i4«r    )• 


X 


centincis  wfrofe  fiilclity  might  be  relied  up- 
on, he  decamped  filently  after  dark,  and,*by 
a  circuitous  route>  reached  Princeton   at  9  o* 
clock  the  next  morning.     The  noife  of  the 
firing,  by  which  he  killrd  and   captured   be- 
tween  five  and  fix  hundred  of  the  British  Bri- 
gade in  that  town,  was  the   firfl:  notice  Lord- 
Corriwallis  had  of  this  (tolen  march*  -  Gene- 
ral WalKif>gton,^he  project  fiiccefsfully  ac- 
compliihcd,  inftanrly  filed  off  for  the  moun- 
tainous grounds  of  Morris  Town.     Mean- 
while Hi3«LiOrdfhip>  who  arrived  by  aforctd'> 
march  at  Princeton,  juft  as  he*  hadicfc  it,t 
finding  the  A  fiwricans  could  not  be  ovcrti^- 
kcn^  p««ceei^f     vitkouthakiiigfoBronfwkk. 

^'tnoim'j^eneral  WiK^^gf^^^||ii^  an  ac-  - 
0^hf  thi  ^  fecon^llpiK£{s  to  General  Pui:- 
i^iim  and  ordered  him  t# move  imraediareiy 
wit^  dl  his  troops  to  Croffwix,  v  for  the  pur-  ' 
ppfeof  co-operating  in  recovering  the  Jerfeys : 
an  event  which  the-  prefent  fortunate  jupc- 
tore  (while  the  enemy  were  yet  panic^flruck) 

♦appeared  to  promife.  The  General  caution- 
ed hinij  however, .  if  Ae  enemy  ihould  ftiil 
continue  at  Brunfwick,  to  guard  with  gteiit 
circumfpcdion^again(ta  furprife  :  efpecially, 
as  they,  having  recently  fuffered  by  two  at- 
|aclts>  could  fc^rcdy  avoid  being  edged  wiih 

■N  2      '^ 


f   (■ 


•    ,'V.'-*'. 


i 


(      t5o     ) 

rcfentment  to  attempt  retaliation.  His  Ex- 
cellency farther  advifed  him  to  give  out  his 
Arengch  to  be  twice  as  great  as  it  was  j  to  for- 
ward on  all  the  baggage  and  fcattering  men 
belonging  to  the  Divifion  deilihed  for  Morris 
Town  I  to  employ  as  many  fpies  as  he  fhould 
think  proper ;  to  keep  a  number  of  horfcmen, 
in  the  drefs  of  the  country,  going  conftantly 
bacliwards  and  forwards  on  the  fame  fecret 
fervice  ;  and  laftly>  if  he  fhould  difcover  any 
V  ;  intention  or  motion  of  the  enemy  that  could 
be  depended  upon  and  might  be  of  confe- 
quence,  not  to  fail  in  conveying  the  intellil 
gence  as  rapidly  as  pofixble  %  expreis  to 
^ead  Quarters*  Major  Central  Futnam 
was  diredted  fbon  arfier  |^  l^^ft  «%^^^ 

He  had  never  wiA^^  more  tha#|^  fc^^ 
hundred  troops,  thoiph  he  was  only  i|  fif- 
teen miles  diitance/rom  the  enemy's  ftrong 
garrifon  of  Brunfwick.  At  one  period  froma 
£]dden  diminution,  occafioned  by  the  tardi- 
nefsof  the  militia,  tur'^ing  out  to  replace  chofe 
whofe  time  of  fervice  was  expired,  he  had 
fewer  men  for  duty  than  he  h^  miles  of  fron- 
tier to  guard.  NoS:^  was  the  Commander  in 
Chief  in  a  more  eligible  (ituarion.  It  is  true, 
that,  whik  he  had  jcarcely  the  femblance  of 
an  ar«ny,  under  the  fpccious  parade  of  a  park 
of  artillery  and  ihe  impofiiig  appearance  of 


.fp*-'^ 


his  Head  Quarters,  eftabliflied  at  Morris 
Town>  he  kept  up  in  the  eyes  of  his  country- 
men as  well  as  in  the  opinion  of  his  eneniy>  the 
appearance  of  no  contemptible  /orcc.  Fu- 
ture generations  will  find  dlfBculty  in  conceiv- 
ing how  a  handful  of  new-levied  Men  and. 
Militia>  who  were  necellitated  to  be  inocula- 
ted for  the  Small-Pox  in  the  courfe  of  the 
winter,  could  be  fubdivided  and  pofted  fa 
advantageou(ly>  as^  effedually  to  pcoted  the 
inhabitants,  conB^  the  enemy,,  curtail  their 
forage,  and  beat'%p  their  quarters,  without; 
fi^aining  a  fijigle  diiiifter.^ 

In  thf  ba^eofl^rinceton  Capt.McPherfoii^ 
of  tl«^i^th  Bi^^ti^Rejpme^  i  very  worthy 
Scoi^hman,.  wa&  i|j|»erately  wounded  in  the 
lttri|^and  left  witi|||pfead.  l}|>on  General 
Pu^iam's  arrivahhep^hefbundhiirfilanguiillh 
ifi||  Iti  extreme  diftrefs^  without  a  furgeon^ 
witiio«t  a  Angle  accommodation,  and  with- 
out a  frknd  tafolace  the  finking  fpirit  in  the 
gloomy  hour  of  death.  He  vifitcd  and  im- 
mediateljr  Caufed  every  poilible  comfort  to  be 
adminiftered  to  hiai.  Captain  McPherfon, 
who  contrary  to  all  appearances  rccovercfl, 
after  having  denfionftraeect  to  General  Putnaiin 
the  dignified  fenfe  of  obiigallonawlikk  a  gen- 
erous mind  wifhes  not  to  conceal,  one  day  tii 
familiar  con  vcrfation  demanded-^*  pfay*  Sir, 


■T 


(      *52      > 


"  what  countryman  are  you  ?** — '^  An  Amc-' 
"  rican,"  anfwered  the  lat/ter. — "  Not  a  Yan- 
"  Jkee  P'^faid  the  other J  *^  A  fuU-blood- 
"  edone/'  replied  the  G^^neral.  "  By  G— d, 
"  I  anr^  forry  for  that,"  n\ioined  McPherion, 
**  I  tdid  not  think  there  couidbe  fo  nnuch  good- 
**  ncfs  and  generofity  in  an- i\merican,pr,  in- 
**  deed  in  a^iy  body  but^  Scotchman.'* 

Wkile  the  recovery  of  Captain  McPher- 

|bn  was   doubtful,  he   defi red  that  General 

.Rutfl^m  would-permit  a  friend  in  the  BritifK 

.  Jirmv  at  Brunfwick  to  come  and  alTift  him  ih 

rn^^ing  HIS  Will.     General  Putnam,  who 

jrid  ijticn  My  fifty  naen  iii  tls  whole  confj- 

v;^a«d>  wadfodly  etnb«rral^1>y  the  propoa- 

^on.    Oni^e  ci^c  h^M5^te  Was  n<»  co^ 

^'thata  BritJih  Officer  |^Sld  have  smt^^por-^ 

-tuaaky  t«|||pr  but  thic^^iplknefs  of  his  pbffi^a 

t  th.c  other^  it  was  fcafiC^ly  in  his  nature  |0. re* 

-fufc  complyiryg  with  a  diftate  of  humanity, 

:  Hciuckily  bethought  himfelf  of  4*1-  expedi- 

'Cnt,   which  he  bifiened  to    put   in  pradice^ 

A  Flag  af  Truce  was  diffatcbed  wkh  Captaia 

JMcPhenTofi's  requcll,    iiuc  under  an    iiijunc- 

.  tion  not;  to  retui;n  «^i^h  his  iriend  until  after 

dark.  -^n^i^iii&V^rting  lights  were  placed  in 

aUtlae*^Q0msaf  the  Co31e«?e,  and  in  every  a- 

parfmcnt  of  the  vacant  hotifes  chroughout  ihe 

t<rwn«    Dufifig  the  whole  ni^ht,  thic_^fty 


(      153      ) 

men,  fometimes  all  together  and  fometimes  in 
fmall  detachments,  ^ere  marched  from  differ- 
ent quarters  by  the  hoiife  in  which  McPherfon 
lay.  Afterwards  it  was  known,that  the  Officer 
who  came  on  the  vifit  at  his  return  reported^ 
that  General  Putnam's  Army  upon  the  moft 
moderate  calculation  could  not  confid  of  Itft 
tcHthan  four  or  fivt  thoufand  n>e«» 

This  winter's  campaicn  (for  our  ti 
conflantly  kept  the  neld  after  regaining  a 
footing  in  the  Jerfeys)  has  never  yet  w:n 
faithfully  an  d  feelingly  defcf ibed.  The  fu^« 
den  re(toratio|iOf  our  cauf^  Iron) '  the  .Very 
rgc  (£rtui^lim  intenvoven  whhiWh  j^ 

cfkufes  and  extraordinary 
of  doing  the  fi^l^^ 

^  Itaiii^l^ghthe  lei- 
the  Bri- 
tiffi'dbu^efs  contributed  to  acWerate  this 
event.  Ilpr  the  manner,  impolitic  as  inhu- 
man, in  Vmich  they  manag^  their  te^^pora- 
ry  conquers  tended  evident  to  alienate  the 
affedttons  of  their  adht|ents>  tojl^nfir^in  the 
wavering  in  an  op^fite  intfltft,  l|i  Youfe  the 
fupine  into  adtivttv^  to  afleml^  the  difperfed 
to  the  Standard  of  America,  and  to  infufe  a 
fpirit  of  revolt  into  the  minds  of  thofc  men, 
ivhohad  from  neceffity  ful^irii^^      to  thek 


tfti 


fnjuftict' 
Burpofed 
Ufl^t  abler  pens. 


-■■sj,y<»» 
■  w    ^  . 


« % 


(       154       ) 


power.  Their  Gondu6b  in  warring  with  fire 
and  fword  againlt  the  imbecility  of  youth  and 
the  decrepitude  of  age ;  agaiull  the  Arts,  the 
Sciences,  the  curious  Inventions  and  the  ele- 
gant improvements  in  civilized  life  ;  againft 
the  melancholy  Widow,  the  niifcrable  Or* 
'  l^han,  the  peaceable  proFrflbr  of  humane  Li- 
terature, and  the  facred  Miniikr  of  the  Gof- 
pcJ,  fcemed  to  operate  as  powerfully,  as  if 
purpofcly  intended  to  kindle  the  dormant 
fp^k  of  refillance  into  an  inextinguilhable 
fittme.  If  we  add,  to  the  black  catalogue  of 
|)fovpsations  akcady  enumerated,,  their  infati-^ 
ai^f  rapacity  itr  plundering  friends  and  foes 
in^i^riminately  f  thiirlibidUio^is  brutality  in 
yic^ipg  th«  '^hafiity  of  (h«^a|^||^^^^  their 
iJioi^/ ,tkart> ;Got hk  r^st^,^^^ACi^^hnviiit 

'f^^*«B|^'publiG'Re 

ingiDW€l|t^;0|,lT^ials,  Edifi^fbi^^ 
cducaii^w^^dTeri^liWoF  the  Deity  ;  l||ptl!v., 
crwith  lOmr  infiiferable  ferocity  (iinf^liEle- 
dcnted  indeed  among  civilized  iiitionti)  in 
murdering  on  the  field  of  battle  the  wounded 
while  begging  for  mercy,  in  cau^ng  their  pri- 
foners  to  famifti  wi^  hunger  and  cold  in 
Prifons  and  Pjifoiv- Slips,,  and  in  carrying 
their  malice  b^f  onddcath  itftlf  by  denyingthe 
decent  rites  of  fepukure  to  the  dead, — we 
ihali  not  be  aftoniflied  chat  the  Yeomanry  in 
"the  two  Jeri:ys>  when  the  firffi  glimmering  .of 


?ft*W,V* 


(      «S5      ) 

hope  -bcgari  to  break  in  upon  them,  rak  a$ 
one  man,  with  the  unalterable  rcfolut^ion  to 
pcrilh  in  the  senerous  caufe  or  expel  thrfr 
mcrcilefs  invaders. 


The  principal  Officers,  ftationed  at  $  vari- 
ety of  well-chofen  and  at  feme  almoft  in- 
accefTible  pofitions,  fecmed  all  to  he  £^iftuate4 
by  the  fame  foul  and  only  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  giving  proofsof  vigilance,  enterprise 
vand  valour.  From  what  has  been  faid  ref- 
,pe6ting  the  feantinefs  of  our  aggregate  force, 
4t  will  be  Q<>ncluded  .that  the  number  iof  rncn, 
iunder  tlviilites'r^  each,    was  indeed  v«ry 

mon  alcr^neft  of  ^hi 

fantly  hovering  roun4 

mi  the  K^n&^at  com* 

w|||^g,(e'veral 

contiguouSinpacndlHmgteea^ 

Inftrudlions  of  the^Bmcral  i^ 

t  "Theiplped  private  Orders  to  Lord  Stirling  i^H 
Ihewr,  in  a  laiioiik  and  milicaM|pianDer,  the  fy&cm  of 
fer^e  then  purfned.    '  .J^^^    ■■m' 
.^     "  ToBri^tdier  G^P  jL,oa;%,iRLiHe. 

«•  Yon  are  to  repair  |o  Bailehridge  ;irid  take  tftwrn 
yoa  the  conimand  of  the  uoopt  nbw  ^astjc,  and  fAch  ai 
:ikiay  be  fent  to  your  care.  ' 

**  You  are  to  endeavpur,  as  m«ch  as  poffibic,  to  feir- ' 
rafs and 'aninoy.  thie  enemy  by  keeping  ico«^ing  parti^ 
conftantly  (or  at  /rcque^tly  at  poffibic)  iioand  their 
^uartcM*     >^^ -^  -^  ,      ^::-.  ■^^^^••. 


-••.;|fV''."-4  , 


y  •;•.««•!•.«••.■.%*!, 


:')'■■ 


'A**' 


m 


(      'S«      ) 


fe'" 


whief)  together  with  their  readinefs  in  giving 
and  confidence  of  receiving  fuch  reciprocal 
aid  as  the  exigencies  might  require^  ferved  to 
fupply  the  defedt  of  force. 

This  manner  of  doing  duty  not  only  put 
our  own  pofls  beyond  the  reach  of  fudden 
mfult)  and  furprize ;  but  fo  exceedingly  har- 
raffed  aiid  in  timidated  the  enemy  that  foragers 
werciilAdom  fcnt  out  by  them>  and  never  ex- 
cept in  very  large  parties.  General  DLckenfon^ 
who  commanded  on  General  Putnam's  \e(^ 
difcovered  about  the  20thof  January,  a  forag- 
ing patty  confiding  of  about  jfoiir  hundred 


19  keep 


\ 


then,  on  the  oppofite  Mt0 

f?  At]^  wilt  be  in  tlie  fiypo«rh< 

Di<i(eidM.iiid  W  |'^^ppiend  it  lo' 

up  a  rfftttjiHiaji"^  '  ■"**  endeavQ' 

late  yo  JHHps  by  'Mfra  as  to  have  %|ie 

out.  ^^  .    ,^::J^7^ 

"  U(e  every  means  in  yoor  power  ii|«^^in  intelli* 
fence  from  the  enemy  ;  which  may  M|bly  be  bctMr 
•ffcfted  by  engaging  (JMtt  of  tbofe  peo|li#tiphaveob* 
tained  /*rtf/#i7i«)ujg^8ll|||pder  pr#teiice  of  aiking  ad- 
vice, than  by  i^d^pit^^igilie^ 

"  Yott  wi|iPwy^^^^^ 
tain  and  con^pikaie  thr  tirl^eft  acconnu  of  the  ene- 
my*! moveii^^i  and  to  allemble,  in  the  fpeedieft 
manner  pbmiii# jf^ar  uoopt  either  for  ofence  or  de- 
fence. 

the  fonrth  day  of  February  1777 
Gso.  WatHiKoroM. ' 


>i 


(      '57      ) 


two  miles  from  Somerfct  court-houfc.  As 
the  bridge  was  pofTefTed  and  defended  by 
'three  field  pieces  lo  that  it  could  not  be  paffed  ; 
General  Dickenfon,  at  the  head  of  four  hundred 
militia,  broke  the  ice,  crofled  the  river  (where 
the  water  was  about  three  feet  deep)  refolutc- 
ly  attacked  and  totally  defeated  the  foragers. 
Upon  their  abandoning  the  convoy,  a  few 
prifoners,  forty  waggons,  and  mor.<:  than  a 
hundred  draft  horfes  with  a  con fideralif;  booty 
of  cattle  and  fheep  fell  into  his  hands.  ' 

Nor  were  our  operations  on  General  Put- 
nam's right:  .finnk  lefs  fortunatCo      Togiv^' 

1^  numerous  friends  ptthc 

K|^  in  the  county  of  Mon- 

ars  l|(^|iye  been  ajpriiicipa)  mok^ 

ir  W^^^^I|(tiTC;  ;^.|ftre«ii[ing 

J  his  c^W|||feftts  tjM^       own 

Qili^reviouny  wRis  dii^KBIf  rather 


9t 


Geoeral  Sir  William  >  HoW, 


"^m 


d  New-York*  De- 


P'^A 


•  Extraa  of  ii  litter  i 
to  Lord  Georgi#  (lei 
cem)jer2o,  1776, 

Having  mentioned  the  Iraicfefs  attetrip^f  LoM  Corn- 
walli*  to  find  boats  at  Corryel's  ferry  to  ^||/'^  the  Dela- 
ware— he  proceeds  thus :  ^ 

**  The  paffage  of  the  Delaware  beihjff^^  dips  rendered 
imprafticable,  his  Lordfliip  took  pott  at  Penrtington,  in 
which  place  and  Trenton  the  two  divifions  remained  un- 
til the  fourteenth,  when  the  weather  haying,  becoaie  too 
fevere  to  keep  the  &t[d,  and  the  winter  caatonmenty  be- 

o 


■y 


(     »s«     ) 


!^: 


<©o  far.  After  that  chain  became  broken, 
4IS I  have  already  relased,  by  the  blows  at 
Treoton  and  Princeton,  he  was  obliged  to 
colledt  during  thereft  of  the  winter  the  tife- 
lefs  reoiains  in  his  barracks  at  Brunfwick.  In 
the  meantime  General  Putman  was  much  more 
Aiccefsful  in  his  attempt  to  protedt  our  dif- 
pei'fed  and  difpirited  friends  in  the  fame  di- 
ftfi6fc  i  who,  environed  on  every  fide  by  enve- 
nomed adverfaries  remained  infeparably  ri- 
vctti^d  in  affedion  to  American  Independence. 
He  firft  detached  Colonel  Guern]r  and  after- 
wards Major  "*  Dav<isj  with  Aidb  parties  of 

'^^•■' ^    m. lirMiiia»c«dl<#lii 111  ^ 

the 

^  ^      laced  ii 
tke  troopFwiU  li>e  in  p 


a  copy  of 

^,_^^,,^i|J|i|tliOttgkt  worthy 
to^  IlioMttlbrtte  kis  iatisfafUoa 


V 

^  As  theft  happened  t( 
one  t^  his  letters  to  '   " 
ttf  infcrtion  her^ 
with  dieir  cone 

"  To  Mijor  jHlBsni*  of  the  third  Battalion  of  Cum- 
"^ierhnd  County  Militia. 

*»  Lipiillpl  libUged  to  yott  for  your  aaivity,  vigor. 
tMddSwffuilmityoaliktLvchttn  under  my  cominand  : 
yoa  wiu7th^3bre»  march  your  men  to  Philadelphia  and 
there  daSS&sue§tt^mi  Tetttrning  ioto  the  ftore  ail  the 


I 


(     »s>    ) 


LjT 


militia  as  could  be  fparcd,  for  their  fiipport. 
Several  (kirmifhes  enlued  in  which  our  peo- 
ple had  always  the  advantage.  They  took,  at 
different  times,  many  prifoners,  horfes  and 
waggons  from*  foraging  parties.  In  effect  fa 
well  did  they  cover  the  country  as  to  induc'e 
fome  of  tfie  mo(b  refpcdtable  inhabitants  to 
declare,  that  the  fecurity  of  the  perfons,  as^ 
well  as  the  falvation  of  the  property  of  many 
friends  to  freedom,,  was  owing  to  the  fpiritecl 
exertions  of  thefe  two  detachments  ::  who  o.l 
the  fame  time  that  they  refcued  the  county 
from.the  tyranny  of  Tories^,  afforded  an  op« 
portunity.  for  the  militia  to  recover  from  their 
confternation>;to  ennbody  themfelves  in  war* 
like  wt^mjii^mjjlmnd  on  their  defeftqcf^ 

'')t^^3' thi^MM  General.  ]^^ 

Ii^wrefie(i^$iF|ck.  (cnt  ColonclNdfiif^itii 
one  hundr^ati^m^hUtiatofurprize  tiftm. 

That  officer condu^pPftJIfo, jgu^f^^^y 
and  deciiion  as  to  ilitt  tlPliKe  fTf ^^^ 

ammunition,  arms  aiidaccottU«iaiit»*^tt?Ktehe«l  at 
that  place. 

^. ami  $j^,X9«f  hiunblc  Savant 

MtUteUM  Filruary  $tbg  1777 .    .  - 


C      J6o      ) 


cij,: 


Thcfe  *  Refugees  commanded  by  Major 
Stockton,  belonging  to  Skinner's  Brigade 
and  amounted  to  fixty  in  number. 

A  SHORT  time  after  this  event.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  fent  put  another  foraging  party  towards 
Bound-Brook.  General  Putnam,  having 
received  notice  from  his  emifiaries,  detached 
Major  Smith  with  a  few  Riflemen  to  annoy 
the  party  and  followed  himfelf  with  the  reft  of 
his  force.  Before  he  could  come  up,  Major 
Smith,  who  had  formed  an  ambuih,  attacked 
the  enemy,  killed  feveral  horfes,  took  a  fewl 
prifonersand  (ixteen  baggage^ waggons,  with- 
out fuftaining  any  injury.  By  fych  opera- 
tions, our  hero,  in  the  courfc  pf  the  winter, 
tajptqred. nearly  a  thoufand  prifoners. 


'  V 


IiM;J 
Waflii 


^:^ebruary  General 
eral  PutQjBn,:^llt,  in 


« 

«c 

(C 

*l 
*t 
<< 


Rxtra^  ot  a  Letter  from  General  Putnam  t?  ihe  Coun* 

#1  of  Safety  of  PenRf^^plii^;  dated  at  Princeton  Fe- 

^.bruary  1 8th,  xy^fe 

^<  YefterdaMmiplr  Cplooel  Nelfon,  with  a  hundred 
and  fifty  ni|^^  Laurence's  Neck,  attacked  fixty 
men  of  CoJptnd  Skinner's  Brigade,  conimanded  by 
the  enen^i  RikowNBD  Lan  d  Pi  lot  Majar  Rich- 
ard  Sitc^fiiw,  routtd  them  and  took  the  whole  prifon. 
ers — among  them  the  Major,  a  Captain  and  three  Su. 
balterni,  with  feventy  Hand  of  Arms.  Fi/iy  of  the 
Bidfird  ftnnjyl'vania  Rifitmtn  hekavedlike  'veurant*** 


^,1  V'fev-' 


C      i6*      ) 


confcqucnce  of  a  large  acceffion  of  ftrcngth; 
from  New- York  to  thcBritifti  army  at  Brunf- 
wick,  it  was  to  be  apprehended  they  would* 
foon  make  a  forward  movement  towards  the 
Delaware:,  in  which  cafe  the  latter  was  di- 
re6ted  tocrofs  the  river  with  his  adlual  force,, 
to  aflume  the  command  of  the  Militia  who^ 
might  a(Il:mble,  to  fecure  the  boars  on  the 
weft  fide  of  the  Delaware  andiofacilitate  the 
paflage  of  the  reft  of  the  army.     But  the  ene-. 
my  did  not  remove  from  their  winter-quar- 
ters until  th    feafon  arrived  when  green  for- 
age could  be  fupplied-    In  the  interaiediiitc 
period,. the  correfpondence  on  the  part  ofGcn- 
eral  Putnam  with theCbmmanderinChief con* 
fiftcd  priiiei|l#y  of  reports  and  enquiries  con- 
cerning tKetret^ao^ilt  of  fome  of  the  fbllowf^ 
kgdcicifiptions^^^  either  of  thqft 

#lKi-j6»me    I'i'i'tfMfcJllflL^^  "'*"' 

>,  or'ISHHpP^B 

or.  ^Il^had  M^Pepuced: 
'llifallediQlt#>i^r  cauiev  or  who  w^^deilgn- 
«d  to  becompreheQctt4ln  the  Amerkan^o- 
clamaiioni  which  reqiiirid  c^t  thofe  who  had 
taken  pfoteftions  Inoiild  gke  them  to  the 
nearcft  American  Officer,.,  w.  go  within  the 
Bricifh  lines-  The  letters  of  his  Excellency 
in  rccupn>  generally  advilWy,  were  indiciiiive 
of  confidence  and  ajT^jrobacion. 

O  2       '. 


i^ 


(      i6i      ) 

When  the  Spring  had  now  fo  far  advanc- 
ed that  it  was  obvious  the  enemy  would  foon 
take  the  field  ;  the  Commander  in  Chief,  af- 
ter defiring  General  Putnam  to  give  the  offi- 
cer who  was  to  relieve  him  at  Princeton  all 
the  information  nect^Tary  for  the  condiidt  of 
that  pod,  appointed  that  General  to  thecom- 
0)and  of  a  feparate  Army  in  the  Highlands 
^New-York. 


It  isfcarcely  decided,  from  any  documents 
yetpubliihed,  whether  the  prepolterous  plans 
prpfecuted :  by  the  Britiih  Generals  in  the^ 
Campaign  of  1777,  were  altogether  the  refult 
-ofltheir  Orders  from  home^  f«!  ^p^bethcr  they 
-partially  cjrigHrHcd  fr^  ,|hM^jj^^  of 

fi^Mded  to  puii^i^Ubman'tfpNHre, 

to  con^iiliicl  9ll 

rcaibI|^HHpP9S|HH#^ert  ai  1 
niericlJ^^Rnmancl^pn  Chiefj 
McrabKime  fo  i'rrp]nnwljpK''^fitiTridii^n' 
ry  appearances^  chaj^fl^^pimc  how  todif- 
tfibuce  his  tm|tt^|jp|^\liis  ufuai  difcern- 
mentj  (b  2is,0^^0m$memy  with  equal 
pro(pe£^  olpiCGels  in  jdlflferent  parts.  The 
gathcring^^jcmptfts  menaced  the  northern 
J  rontiersi  the  p<)fts  in  the  Highlands  and  the 
City  of  Philadelphia :  "but  it  was  ftill  doubt- 
ful wheic  the  fuiy  ofthcftorm  would  fall. 


t^'^9i^f 


■>>m 


/?■■'& 


(       i63      ) 


Atone  time  Sir  William  Howe  was  forcing 
his  way  by  land  to  Philadelphia,  at  another 
relinquifhing  the  Jerfeys,  at  a  third  facing 
round  to  make  a  fudden  inroad,  then  embark- 
ing with  all  the  forces  that  could  be  fpared 
from  New-York,  and  then  putting  out  to  fea 
—at  the  very  moment  when  General  Bur- 
goyne  had  reduced  Ticonderoga,  and  feem- 
ed  to  require  a  co-operation  in  another  quar- 
ter. 

On  our  (lde>  we  have  feen  that  the  old 
Continental  Army  expired  with  the  y^r 
1776:  fincc  which,  invention  had  been 
tortured  with  ^^i€r.t$   and  zeal  iritfe'ef- 

forts  i;okj6  "         "" 

the 


o£i 


ry 

The 
;he  Geri 


ofa^H. 

that  in  ihi'^ 

Hampihirc  Bri|i 
chufetts  and  the  Bri) 


For  on  the  fttccefi  of  ^ 
di^nikdv  the  f;i^vi  "^     ^^ 

^^^^  under  ^ 

in  ClN^H^nfifted 

Ibuth  of  tlW3u<ifo»: 

trnent,  of  the  New- 

ades  of  Mfsilfa- 

-York>  to* 


gether  with  fome  ifri^gular  Cc^^*  ^nd  thac 
in  the  Highlands  of  the  remaii$||^t1iro  Bri- 
gades of  Maffachttfetts,  the  Gohnej^ut  T  .ine 
confiding  two  Brigades^  the  B^)|de  of 
Rhode-ldand  and  one  R<|piment  p*  NeW" 


(       t«4      > 


York^  Upon  hearing  of  the  loft  of  Ticon- 
deroga  and  the  progrefs  of  the  Britifh  tow- 
ards Albany,.  General  Wa(hington  ordered 
ihe  northern  arniy  to  be  reinforced,  with,  the 
two  Brigades  of  MalTachufetts  then  in  the 
Highlands — and^  upon  finding  the  army  iin^ 
der  his  immediate  command  outnumbered  by 
that  of  Sir  William  Howe»  which  had.  by>  the 
circuitous  route  of  the  Chefapeak  invaded 
,Pennfylvania,.he  alfo  called  from  the  Higlv- 
knds  one  of  the  Cbnneflicut  Brigacies  and. 
that  of  Rhode44land  ta  his*  own  aflHlance^ 

M 
•         I 

f 

iN.thc  neighborhood  of  General  Futnaiyi> 
there  was  ho  enemy  capiUe  of  eaieitiikg.  a^ 
farms..   The  army  kft^aeli|l|# 

i(M^edfb»it»    '■'^'^'^  ■    ■*^-''-' 

'  ';.il*!t*i^'Corfi|i;'^j 

was,,      ^^ 
not  prfaflpiaroll 
Gheft^J^wm  wh^o 
try  betweeathc 
tie  and  carried 
It  was  an  u 

jO  patron^ii^^ndltti..  The  Whig  inhabit- 
ants on  tlij^dge  of  our  lines  and  fiill  lower 
down,j|^  had  been<  [Sundered  in  a  merci- 
left  n^aer,  delayed  not  t«  IJirip  the  Tories 
in  reti%..    People^  moft  nearly  connected 


I 


Cctun- 

1^  the  cat* 

mhabttanis. 

^pl^  Brltlfb  Generals 


(      «6S      ) 


and  allied,  frequently  became  mod  exafpera- 
tcd  and  inveterate  in  malice.  Then  the  tics 
of  fellowfhip  were  broken — then,  friendfliip 
itfdf  being  foured  to  enmity,  the  mind  readi- 
ly gave  way  to  private  revenge>  uncoatroul- 
ed  retaliation  and  all  the  deforming  pafTiOQS 
that  difgrace  humanity.  Enormities,  almoft 
without  a  name,  were  perpetrated — at  the 
defcription  of  which>  the  bofom,  not  frozen 
to  apathy,  muft  glow  with  a  mixture  of  pity 
and  indignation.  To  prevent  the  predatory 
incurfions  from  below  and  to  cover  the  Coun- 
ty of  Weft  Chefter,  General  Putnam  detac$i- 
cd  from  his  Head-Quarters,  at  Peeks-Killr 
Meigs's  R^gi^ent,.  >vhich  in  the  courfe  of  tjsfi 
Camp^^^ripji^lfrol  partizan  ftrokes  and 


He 


too] 


mm^tii. 


jfbr  whict»  jtwas 

VKIKDt  ^r--^  .■     ■■      i^  -¥^     J     .^-.'■.       -'.s  »■■;•!  >>^  0:  ■■■wit:.. f  •.f^ifc.^TiSt 


fica 
kad 
)ur| 

enterpriz«,  a 
channels,  was.  edit 
and  tranfmitted  by 


^:m^^mm 


^I'rtVi^.tv-::.;.^--- 


s  by 

of  thMKendc^ 

through  federal 

that  obtarned 

in  Chief. 


It  was  not  wonderful  that  ma^  of  th^ 
Tories  were  able,  tindifcoveced,.  to  jwetrat^ 
far  into  the  country  and  even  to  go  i^|kl€t- 
ters  or  meflages  from  one  Britilh  Ara||^Faik- 


(       i66       ) 


!»!'<*.'.  '. '! 


.S'l 


ether.  The  inhabitants,  who  were  well  af- 
fedtcdto  the  royal  caulCjafForded  them  every 
pofllble  iupporc  and  their  own  knowledge  of 
che  different  routes  gave  them  a  farther  ^cil- 
ity  in  performing  their  peregrinations.  Some- 
times the  mod  adtiveLoyalifts  (as  the  Tories 
wifhed  to  denominate  themfelves)  who  had 
gone  into  the  Britifh  Potts  and  received  pro- 
mifes  of  Commiflions  upon  enliiling  a  certain 
number  of  Soldiers,  came  back  again  fecretly 
with  Recruiting  Inftrudions.  Sometimes 
thefc  and  others  who  came  from  the  enem7 
ilithin  the  verge  of  our  CannpSyweredetede^: 
and  condemned  to  death  in  conformity  to  the 
iiifages  of  war.  But  the  Brl^SMjcnerals,  who 
"lad  aflunlimkcd  Aip]ptelfi|| 
^jEiMiifnd,,  were  able 


at  their 


X 


the  ^^^ 

^  of  S^military 
ling  merC^ 
inpr^ 


al] 
;es. 


^f* 


Fith^i 


M 


Kvfiy 


-^ 


^iiiittbility 
rfecrct  fer- 
andmerit. 


A  f  Ei^pp^  t^  liajjfjc  ,4>f  Palmer,,  who 
ii»k a  Li^enant  S^  thf  Tory  new  Levies,, 
wasjigli^ed  ia  the  ^atap  at  Peeks  Kill. 
Gq^por  Tryon,  who  commanded  the  new 
IxvK^iftcIaimed  him  as  a  JijriciihrO£c^r4;-e- 


-v.   .*;>i'.*',- 


{      i«7      ) 

prcfcntcd  the  heinous  crime  of  condemning 
a  man  commiffioned  by  his  Majeily  and 
threatened  vengeance  in  cafe  he  fliould  be  ex- 
ecuted. General  Putnam  wrote  the  follow- 
ing pithy  reply* 


•cc 


S   I    R, 


^*  Nathan    Palmar,   a  Licutenwil   it. 
^^  your  Kmg's  fervice,  was  taken  in  my 
**  Camp  as  a  Spy — he  was  tried  as  a  ^jr— he 
"  was  condemned  as  ^^^St/^^-^fnd  yo^  ^9^ 
^*  reft  afTured*  Sir»  he  fliall  be  hanged  as  « 

honor  to  be.  &c. 


i'^^^MiiM 


<■» ,  \^<  .,,-_i»'j 


,3tAsi 


It.!'.  "5 


Ht- 


"*  I! 


^'%if-'W^"M) 


Imfortant 
Not  long  after  the 
ifrom  Peeks  Kill  to  Pifliii&ania,  a 
ment arrived  atNew-YorklromEu 
pearances  indicated  that  offenfive 
would  follow.  General  Putnaiti, 
been  reduced  in  force  to  a  finglc  Bri 
theiieldand  a  fuigle  R^inijeot  in 


pcccnreu^ 
rchtd 


Ap*- 


'    ,V  » 


■f- 


^■^\i\ 


'<*• 


-;^.' 


(      '68      ) 

at  Fort  Montgomery,  repeatedly  informed 
the  Commander  in  Chief  that  the  pods  com- 
mitted to  his  charge  mull  in  all  probability  be 
]o(t,  in  cafe  an  attempt  ihould  be  made  upon 
them  ;  and  that,  circumilanced  as  he  was>  he 
could  not  be  refponfible  for  the  confequen- 
ces.  His  fituation  was  certainly  to  be  lament- 
ed, but  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  the  Coir.  • 
mander  in  Chief  to  alter  it:  except  by  au- 
thorifmg  him  to  call  upon  the  Militia  for  aid 
-^an  aid  always  precarious ;  and  often  fo  tar« 
%,  «as  when  obuined  to  be  of  no  utility.        i 

.    On  the  fifth  of  Oftober,  Sir  T^enry  Clin- 
tpn  came  up  the  North  Rivf§i|ish:^ree  thou-  * 
-i|kod  nrien.      After  mr '  -  ' 

ithc  attentiojy 

''  .,at 

his 
gom^^H&over 

lute  ^ii^^^^^^g^^^BiflHP^'^^^ 
the  Garrifon,  ]jJ^^H^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^ 
m6vement^M||PH||Rtcr  by  exprefs  to 
Gener^d|PP^<»i^^Qur.  By  the  treach- 
ery of  ^P  tlneiTenger  the  letter  mifcarried. 
;,GencrJputnam,  aftpnifted  at  hearing  no- 
*fti|i^|K^£ting;|l)fc«iie^^  with  Gen- 

Tirfons  and  Cohmei  Root  his  Adjutant 
Gc|H|||  to  reconnoitre  them  at  Kingi  Ferry. 
In  tSmean  time>  at  five  o'clock  in  the  ^fter^ 


to 


(      >69      ) 

nocMii  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  columns,  having 
furmounted  tlie  obftacies  and  barriers  of  na^ 
turc,  dcfcended  from  the  Thunder- Hill, 
through  thickets  impaflable  but  for  light 
troops  and  ♦  attacked  ;hc  different  redoubts. 

•  The  Author  of  tKefc  Memoirs,  then  Major  of  Bri- 
gade to  the  firft  Conned^icttt   Brigade,   was  alone   at 
Head-Quarters  when  the  firing  began.      He  haftened  to 
Colonel  Wyllys,  the  fenior  officer  in  camp  and  advifed/ 
him  CO  difpatch  all  the  men  not  on  duty  to  Fort  Mont- 

Somery,  without  waiting  for  orders.  About  five  hun- 
red  men  marched  inftantly  under  Colonel  Meigs ;  and 
the  author,  with  Doflor  Beardfley;m  Surgeon  in  thell|«. 
gade,  rode  at  U\\  %eed  through  a  bye-path,  to  let  tlie! 
garrifori  know^  rkli^  a  reinforcement  was  on  its  march* 

*'\,|h^  haile  thefe  officers  made  to  and 
''*^^a«,fo  completely  in  veiled,  on 
^Mbletpemer.    I^JwrjP 


Notwithlta 
over  the* 
theif 

c 


4;.' 


lorei 

rhen 


well 
plat< 
up  the  ti\ 
the  crew 


fire,  to  prevent  her 
wUbfeihips  were  appri  _  ^ 

of  the  night,  the  profbttfttflSHliS  . . 
tetrupied  flaflics  of  the  )|aiaes'^L  ill»im 
tcrs,  the  lopt  ftiadows  of  JAke'ClifF&  that 


Eft 

The 

her 

lut  the 

her  on 


were  feen,   the  exploiion  of  the  Qaqnon  whi*,, 
loaded  in  the  ftiip,  and  the  revei-bciting  echo  ™ 
'founded,  at  intervals,  between  the  ftupendOu«  W 
i^ri  both  fides  of  the  river,  compofed  an  awful  pi 
^.  ior  perfons  prepared  (by  the  precediuflt  ic^ 
•template  fubjeas  of  horrid  iublinM.tfo-    *  **"' 


s  of  the  enemy  ; 
ing  darknefs 
,  the  in- 
the  wa- 
nd thfn 
?re  left 


%''.>'''W^^^S!Mid,'* 


?*»*  %.  j 
*(.« 


V? 


(       no      ) 


.%. 


Thegarrifon,  infpired  by  the  condud  of  their 
leaders,  defended  the  works  with  diftinguifh- 
cd  valor.  But,  as  the  poll  had  been  defign- 
cd  principally  to  prevent  the  pafling  of  (hips 
and  as  an  aflault  in  rear  had  not  been  expcA- 
cd,  the  works  on  the  land  fide  were  incom- 
plete and  untenable.  In  the  dufk  of  twilight 
the  Britifli  entered  with  their  bayonets  fixed. 
Their  lofs  was  inconfiderable.  Nor  was  that 
of  the  garrifon  great.  Governor  Clinton,  his 
brother  General  James  Clinton,  Colonel  Du- 
l||ts,  and  mod  of  the  officers  and  men  cfFed- 
cd  their  efcape  under  cover  of  the  ^bick^fmoke 
and  darknefs  that  fuddenly  prjcvaycd.  The 
capture  of  this  fort  by  .Sir#^j^knry  Clinton, 


j^^l^her  wi|h  \hc  c 


Turgo] 
Jelled  to^ 


.11 


lis 


of  the 
viga- 
|cern- 

at 


Bi 


'.  / 


4ay] 

ofMilitiahav- 
d,  the  fucceteful 
—yet  not  before 
in  iti  under  the  Orders  of 
an,  had  burnt  the  defencelefs 
Efopus,  and  feveral  fcattering  build- 
n  the  banks  of  the  riven 


thii  event,  and 

iiig  arrive^ 

army  r 

a  det 

Gcncri 

to 


rwiTHSTANDiNG  the  army  in thelf  igh- 


C      »7i      0) 


\r 


lands  had  been  To  much  weakened  (for  the 
fake  of  flrengthenirig  the  armies  in*  other 
quarters)  as  to  haVe  occafioned  the  lofs  of 
Fort  Montgomery,  yet  that  lofs  was  produft- 
ive  of  no  confequcnccs..  Our  main  army  ia 
Pennfylvania,  after  having  contended  with 
fu  peri  or  force  in  two  indeci  five  battles,  Hill 
held  the  enemy  in  check.  While  the  fplendid 
fuccefs,  which  attended  our  arms  at  the 
Northward,  gave  a  more  favorable  afpe6t  to 
th«  American  affairs,  at  theclofcof  this  cam- 
;pajgn,.ihan  they  had  ever  before  affumed. 

WrfEi*  the  enemy  fell  back  to  New- York 
by  water,  wef<|llowed  them  a  part  of  the  way 


by  land 

mcrtf 

Pa 


^cl  Meigs,   with  a  detach- 
Regiments  in  General 


•iga( 
irot 
ce  up 


lying  made  a  f| 

>ropgi 
andHSl 


they  had  recently 


1 


<;SooN  after  this  €_. 
nam  advanced  towa!^?&Uf  Bfitifh 
he  had  received  intelJigence  that 
dies  of  the  enemy  were  put  with  orde«l 
Governor  Tryon  to  burn  Wf  ight's  Mi 
preyehted  it  by  detaching  three  parties 


hi\ 


^-'■.   .\ 


^j*. 


t-.y 


(       172       ) 


hundred  men  in  each.  One  of  thefe  parties 
fell  in  with  and  captured  thirty-five  j  and  a- 
nother  forty  of  the  New  Levies.  But  as  he 
could  not  prevent  a  third  hoftile  party  from 
burning  the  houfc  of  Mr.  Van  Taffcl,  a  no- 
ted Whig  and  a  Connnnittec  man,  who  was 
forced  to  go  along  with  them,  naked  and 
barefoot,  on  the  icy  ground,  in  a  freezing 
night :  he,  for  the  profeflcd  purpofe  of  retaU 
iation>  fent  Captain  Buchanan,  in  a  Whale- 
boat,  to  burn  the  houfe  of  General  Oliver 
Delanccy  on  York  Ifland.  Buchanan  effefted 
his  objedV,  and  by  this  expedition  put  a  peri- 
od for  the  prefent  to  that  unmeaning  and  wan- 
ton fpecies  of  deftrudlionw 


¥     »- 


W»tt^  General  Pucniill^ 


ft  feoiitin 


B 


rhicl 


furro 

Deia 

crept 

ed,  brought  hj 

morninp:. 

tte  Briti 

cd  at  t 

Corps 

wit 


ged, 
the  bc< 


uch 

conceal - 
jaitcrs  before 
^as  exchanged   by 
lay,  and  plac- 


of  llhe  C^Eite-Boys^  a  licentious 

egulars,.  wlio^  in  thr  fcquel,  com- 

heard-of  depredaftiofts  and  excedes* 


I- 


didrefllng  tafee  fo  beautiful  a  part 


m.. 


.  ^,-.?4'Hr 


:  a*:?**. 


(      173      ) 


of  the  country  fo  barbaroudy  waded;  rtnd, 
often  to  witncfs  fomc  peculiar  fcene  of  female 
mifery.  For  mod  ot  the  female  inhabitants 
had  been  obliged  to  fly  within  the  lines  pof- 
fcflcd  by  one  army  or  the  other.  Near  our 
quarters  was  an  afTefling  indance  of  human 
viciflltude.  Mr.  William  Sutton  of  Maro- 
neck,  an  inoffenfive  man,  a  merchant  by  pro- 
fedion,  who  lived  in  a  decent  fadiion-  and 
whofe  family  had  as  happy  profpedts  as  almod 
any  in  the  country,  upuip  fome  imputation  of 
Toryifm  went  to  the  enemy.  His  wife,  op- 
preffed  with  grief  in  her  difagreeablc  date  of 
derelidion*.  did  not  long  fur vive.  Betfcy 
Sutton^  iheir  tljdtd  daughter^  was  a  naoded 
and  .)Qyf||^roi|M^^^i^  of  about  fifteen 

death  of  her  mocher» 
younger  childrc%,i 


the 

vol! 


ivc 
he( 

idhe1 

sdto 


wa9.xU£?reet 


cc 


cc 


cc 


He  in 
Lt^oly, 

whicl 
ccly 


Sheftitl^tlia^ 

"  milk  (oir  thecKII 
en  awayi — that 

plundered  of  their;pcwing  appi 
niture,  die  believkl>.|t>y  both  pi 
they  had  litile  more  tcj^lofe-^am 

*'  knew  not  >^h"re  to  proGUHfit  bread 

"  dear  iiale  ones,  who  nai  lio  father 

Pa 


feTiaw 
rbrok- 

Jcdted. 

Prnidiec 
rn  tak- 

indlSi^ 


:^.: 


•  » 


m: 


(       »74      > 


♦*  Vide  for  them" — no  mother — (he  was  going 
to  have  faid — but  a  torrent  of  tears  ehoaked 
aFticulation.  In  coming  to  that  part  of  the 
country,  again,  after  feme  campaigns  had  e- 
lapfcd,  I  found  the  habitation  defolate  and 
the  garden  overgrown  with  weeds.  Upon 
enquiry  I  learnt,  that,  as  foon  as  we  lefc  the 
place,  fome  ruffians  broke  into  the  houfe, 
while  fhe  lay  in  bed,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
night :  and  that,  having  been  terrified  by  their 
rudenefs,  (lie  ran  half-naked  into  a  neighboring 
fwamp,  where  (he  conrinved  until  the  morn- 
ing—there the  poof  girl  caught  a  violent 
k:old,  which  ended  in  a  confumption*  It  fi- 
Inifhed  a  life  without  a  fpot— and  a  career  of 
fufferings  commenced  ^nd  co^#||))ed  without 
a 'fault.     ^  ■'-'■ -t  ?■'■■%■■■.- ^ 


Sll^iits  of  wi^tc|itNti«^#wayi^-  tbtipf d 


with  CO 
Putna 
fpccour 
pliich 
agai|){l  his  d 

unpppu) 
pie  in 
cdnc ' 
pyo 


Otiird 


n^ 


indcilgenee^ 

itcfid  rtotnriiilitafe 

the  defcrted  and 

is  of  the  Tories  in  the  State  of 

was  the  ca«fc  of  his  becoming 

ith  no  inconfiderabtlc  rlafs  of  peo- 

State.     On  the  other  fide,   he  had 

an  unconquerable  averfion  to  ma- 

srfons,  who  were  cncrufted  with  th' 


c 


**•■■ 


:\ 


..  \ 


(      175      ) 

difpofal  of  Tory- property,  becaufe  he  believe- 
ed  them  to  have  been  guilty  of  peculations 
arid  other  infa.uous  practices.  But,  although 
the  enmity  between  him  an.i  the  St*<}ueftra- 
tors  was  acrimonious  as  inucual ;  yet  he  lived 
in  habits  of  amity  with  the  mod  refpedable 
charadters  in  public  departments  as  well  as  in 
private  life. 


His  charadlcr  was  a-lfo  refpe(fled  by  the  en- 
emy. He  had  been  acquainted  with  many 
of  the  principal  Officers  in  a  former  war.  As 
flags  frequietvtly  paffed  between  the  out-pofts, 
during  his  continuance  on  the  lines,  it  was  a 
common  pra^icc  to  forward  News-Papers  by 
tlwna  J  ami  «t  thok  printed  by  Rivington, 
the  Rcyal#rintcr4n  i^ew-Yor^  were  infa- 
mous for  ^ffalfe^pds  with  which  they  a- 
boundedj^09nfra^|fi>4m  once  fent  a  Pacli^ 
ct  to  Mjltxtd  Iriendf  GlJiiiil  Rc^btrtfoili^  with 
thJsp^Wtt  ^  Major  VBral   F^^|pre- 

,^^  f^hts  his  ^^^<^f^0^MS^  Maj^HpneraL 
*'  Robertfon  and  re^^l|kipvne  Ameri^an^ 
"  News  Papers  for  hi#^^PfW|^^ien  Gear 
"  eral  Robertfon  (hall  Hive  done^||k  theifi^, 
**  it  is  requeued  they  be  given  to  l^pigtoi^' 
"  in  order  chat  he  may  print  fome  ti 

LatCe   in  the  year  we  left  the  lines  art( 
paired  to  the  Highlands,    For  ujpon  t^e!l>(s 

,  -*  -...*>.,*  1  ■  ■'■it, 

■  -      ...  ■ -.4,;. 


¥'""  *'" 


¥ 


■«*■■..  ■• 


n 


(      »76      ) 


of  fort  Montgomery,  th«  Commander  in 
Cheif  determined  to  build  another  fortifica- 
tion for  the  defence  of  the  river.  His  Ex^ 
cellency,  accordingly,  wrote  to  General  Put- 
man  to  fix  upon  the  fpot*  After  reconnoi- 
tering  all  the  different  places  propofed,  and  re- 
volving in  his  own  mind  their  relative  advan- 
tages for  offence  on  the  water  and  defence  on 
the  land,  he  fixed  upon  West  Point.  It  is 
no  vulgar  praife  to  fay,  that  to  him  belongs 
the  glory  of  having  chofen  this  rock  of  our 
military  falvation.  The  pofition  for  water 
batteries,  which  might  fweep  the  channel 
where  the  river  formed  a  right  angle,  made 
itthemoft  proper  of  any  fpr  commanding 
the  navigation  ;  while  the  rocky  ridges,  that 
rofe  in  awful  fublimity  behind  c»ch  other, 
fudered  it  impregnable^  >^  eveii^ilieapable 
tijg  invefted  by  Ic^^pn  t^i%  thou- 
land  rmf\* ,  <J^  he  mmamymo  cop)di|^Q  this 
poft  MijMf  of  A^Hcan  Gibialtair^l^^ 
ttem^^j^t  but  by^Mi^^i^  of  an 'i^ 
rican  ofHcer^^|flHHl|,Wor}d  knows  that 
this  proje£lGMM|||||^|^  Point,  con- 

tinues toMlIc  ri^ceplicle  of  every  thing  va- 
luable i^pilicary  preparations  to  the  pre- 
ftint  da 


^  ■-;>Jn 


jthe  month  of  Januiry  1778,  when  a 
fno^tewo  feet  dctp  lay  on  the  earth,  Gcnetal 


(       177       ) 


Parfons's  Brigade  went  to  Weft  Point  and 
broke  grounds  Want  of  covering  for  the 
troops,  together  with  want  of  tools  and  mate- 
rials for  the  works,  made  the  profpeft  truly 
gloomy  and  difcouraging.  It  was  neccflary 
that  means  (hoiild  be  found,,  though  our  cur- 
rency was  depreciated  and  our  treafury  ex- 
haivdcd.  The  eftimates  and  requifitions  of 
Colonel  la  Radiere,  the  Engineer  who  laid  out 
the  works,  altogether  difproportioned  to  our 
circumftances,  ferved  only  to  put  us  in  mind 
of  our  poverty,  and,,as  it  were,  to  fatirize  ouf 
refCiirces.  His-petulani  behaviour  and  unac- 
commodating difpofition  added  further  em- 
barrafsments.  Icw^astben  that  the  patriotifm 
of  Governor  Clinton  flione  in  full  K^flre.  His 
exeriions^  to  fumiik  fupplies  can  never  be  too 
much  foiBiTiench^*^  His  inBuence,  arifing 
fronts  ht*  popwlaJ^>.  was  unlimited :  yet  He 


hefita^  not  to  put  all 
•««&|fe(ever    the    feder 
Notwithftandi^  the  i 
pofed  our  progr^f&ij  wi 
opening  of  the  camfr|i 
great  forwardnefs, 


opularity  sM|ri iq'J^* 
ntcrefts>^^g[|nded<y 
pedimenjjHpt  0{k 
is  .  aid  before  iM^^ 


were  ii 


According  to  arefolution  afC^|grers,.an 
enquiry  was  to  be  made  into  the  caufes^^nii- 
itary  difafters.  Major  General  McDowall, 
Brigadier  General  Huntington  and  Qmtnd 


hi 


»> 


.^:, 


** 


^'^ 


(       178       ) 


f 


Wigglcfworth  compofed  the  Court  of  En- 
quiry on  the  lofs  offort  Montgomery.  Up* 
on  full  knowledge  and  mature  deliberation 
of  fafts  on  the  fpot,  they  reported  the  lofs  to 
have  been  occafioned  by  want  of  men  and 
not  by  any  fault  in  the  Commanders. 

General  Putnam,  who  during  the-  invefr 
ligation,  was  relieved  from  duty,  as  foon  as 
Congrefs  had  approved  the  Report,  took 
command  of  the  right  Wing  of  the  Grand 
Army,  under  the  Orders  of  the  General  in 
Chief.  This  ^as  juft  after  the  Battle  of 
Monmouth,  when  the  three  armies  which  had, 
lail  year,  afted  feparately^,  joined  at  the  Whitc^ 
Plains.  Our  effedlive  force,  in  one  camp 
was  at  no  other  time  fb  re^jfeflalS^  ^as  at* 
thi^/§un6ture.  The  a^y  con^jed  of 
fikt}^  rcfjular  Reginrients  c^/oot  forniefd  into 
firfteen  ^gades,  foivyfijttalions  of  Arfflery, 
four  l^iiphts  of  llpe  and  feveral  Co^ 
StatflJiProops.  Bi^t  a^the  enemy  kept 
fe  within  their  ^|esoi)3^York-Ifland,  na-. 
thiwg  could  jiglpi^fedv  Towards  the  end* 
of  Autun[^||||#lm>k:e  up  jihe  Camp,  and 
went  firftf|pFrede|?ick(bu^^^^  and  thence  to 
wiat^t  qJBftcrs. 

Ilpjrder  to  cover theCountry  adjaining to' 
the  JwMf  and  t6  fupport  the  garrifon  of  M^eft 


(       179      ) 


■> 


Bointy  in  cafe  of  an  attack.  Major  General 
-Putnam  was  ftitioned  for  the  winter  at  Read- 
ing in  Connedicut.  He  had  under  his-  Or- 
ders the  Brigade  of  New-Hamplhire,  the  two 
Brigades  of  Conneflicut,  the  Corps  of  Infan- 
try comnaanded  by  Hazen  and  that  of  Caval- 
ry by  Sheldon. 

The  troops,  who  had  been  badly  fed,  bad- 
ly cloached  and  worfe  paid,  by  brooding  over 
their  grievances  in  the  leifure  and  inactivity 
of  winter-quarters  began  to  think  them  in- 
tolerable. The  Connedicut  Brigades  form- 
ed the  defign  of  marching  to  Hartford,  wh^re 
the  General  jjVffembly  was  then  in  Seffion, 
and  of  demanding  redrefs  at  the  point  of  the 
Bayonets  Word  having  been  brought  tp. 
GenerarPqtn^rtT  ijat  the  fecond  brigade  was 
under  arms  for  this  gurpofe,  he  moijued  his 
horl^  galloped  to  tliMHItntonmlijj^S^  thus 
a<WrelIcd  thenGu^  "  My^  brave  ladl|||Phithef 
are  you  going-  ?  ^o  you  intend  to  defei^ 
your  Officers  and  ligii^gvi^the  enemy  to 
follow  you  into  the  coiintry^SBaofe  caufe 
have  you  been  fighting  and  iferirtg  fo 
long  in,  is  it  not  your  own  ?  H^ft  you  no 
property,  no  parents,  wives  or  cffldren  ? 
You  have  behaved  like  men  fo  far— ^hhe 
world  is  full  of  yoyr  praifes — and  pdMity 
will  Hand  aftonilhcd  at  vour  dceAs^but 


xc 


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not  ifyou  fpoil  all  at  laft.  Don't  you  con- 
**  fhier  how  much  the  country  is  diftrefltd  by 
**  the  war,  and  that  your  officers  have  not 
been  any  bctcer  praid  than  yourfelves  ?  But 
we  all  exped  better  times  and  that  the 
Country  will  do  us  ample  juftice.  Let  us 
all  (land  by  one  another  tlien  and  fight  it 
out  like  brave  Soldiers.  Think  what  a 
iT»?une  it  would  be  for  Conne6licut-men  to 
run  away  from  their  Officers.'* — After  the 
fc  vsTal  Regiments  had  received  the  General 
Tb  he  rode  along  the  line  wilh  drums  beating 
and  wjenttd  arms  'j  the  Sergeants,  who  had 
tn< :.  the  command,  brought  the  men  to  an 
OTittTy  in  which  pofition  they  conriaued  while 
he  was  fpeaking.  When  be  liad  done,  he  di- 
IR^Sted  the  aiding  Major  oOfe^igadeto  give  the 
lip^ibrthem  to  ihouMfii:,  march  to  their 
Regii||ftita)  parades  ned  lodge  aniEa.  AH 
^}x!cflH||||executdi|p(:h  promiitude  aia#ap- 
arenlJUood  humour.  Olie  Soklier  dif^, 
who  had  been  the  moll  ^fS;i*c,  was  confined  in^ 
the  quart^t||tord?r  from  whesce,  at  nighr, 
he  atteiij||W&  Hiakc  his  cfcapc.  But  the 
tefUinejjRiio  had  alfo  bf en  in  tbe  mutiny, 
fhothjpilead  on  the  *pat,  and  thus  the  affair 
fui 


l:OUT  the  middle  of  winter,  while   Gen« 
crai^hjtnam  was  on  a  vific  to    his  aut-poft 


m<  ' 


'^■J* 


(    l«l    ) 


con- 
dby 
e  not 

But 
t  the 
^et  us 
;ht  it 
Kat  a 
len  to 
er  the 
cneral 
^eating 
lo  had  \ 

to  an 
[  while 
he  di- 
ve the 

their 
All 

icd  in 

nighr, 

,ut  the 

utiny, 

affair 


Gen- 
lut-poft 


at  Horfe-Neck,  he  found  Governor  Tryon 
advancing  upon  that  town  with  a  cor^s  of  fif- 
teen hundred  nnen— to  oppofe  thcfe.  General 
Putnam  had  only  a  Picket  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men  and  two  iron  '  field  pieces  without 
horfes  or  drag-ropes.  He,  however,  planted 
his  cannon  on  the  high  ground  by  the  meet- 
ing-honfe,  and  retarded  their  approach  by 
firing  feveral  times,  until,  perceiving  the 
horfe  (fupported  by  the  infantry)  about  to 
charge,  he  ordered  the  picket  to  provide  for 
their  fafety  by  retiring  to  a  fwamp  inaccedi* 
ble  to  horfe  ^  and  fecured  his  own  by  plung- 
ing down  the  fteep  precipice  at  the  church  up- 
on a  full  trot.  This  precipice  is  fo  fteep, 
where  he  defcendcd,  as  to  have  artificial  ftairs 
compofed  of  nearly  one  hundred  ftone-fteps 
for  the  accommodation  of  foot  paffengers. 
There  the  Dragoons,  .who  were  but  a  (words* 
length  from  him,  flop;||l^fhort.  I^^y^c  de- 
clivity was  fo  abrupt  that  they  ventilR  not 
to  follow  :  and,  before  they  could  gain  the 
valley  by  going  round  the  brow  of  the  hill  in 
the  ordinary  road,  he  was  far  enough  beyond 
their  reach.  He  continued  his  roiite  unmo- 
lefted  to  Stamford,  from  whence^  having 
ftrengthened  his  picket  by  the  junction  of 
fome  militia,  he  ime  back  again,  and  in 
turn,  purfued  Governor  Tryon  in  his  retreat. 
As  he  rode  down  the  precioice,  one  bi^l^  of 


(      i8a      ) 

'the  many  fired  at  him,  went  through  his  bea- 
ver. But  Governor  Tryon,  by  way  of  com- 
penfation  forfpoiling  his  har,  fent  him  foon 
afterwards,  as  a  prcfent,  a  complete  fuit  of 
-Cloaths. 

In  the  Campaign  of  1779,  ^bich  termina- 
ted the  career  of  General  Putnam's  lervices, 
he  commanded  the  Maryland  line  polled  at 
Butter-milk  falls,  about  two  milrs  below 
Weft  Point.  He  was  happy  in  pofllfiing  the 
friendlhip  of  the  officers  of  that  Line  and  in 
living  on  terms  of  hofpitality  with  them. 
Indeed  there  was  no  family  in  the  army  that 
lived  better  than  his  own.  The  General,  his 
fecond  fon  Major  Daniel  Putnanri,  and  the 
-^jriter  of  thefe  Memoirs  CQppofed  that  fami- 
ly. This  campaign,  principally  fpent  in 
ftrengihcnitlg  the  w^ri|$ofWert  Point,  was 
only  (]i|jj^Q^d  for  the^PD  of  Stoney-Pt>int 
by  the  iHght  Infantry  under  the  condudt  of 
General  Wayne,  and  the  furprifeof  the  poft  of 
Powles  Hook  by  the  Corps  under  the  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Henry  Lee,  When  the 
„  army  quitted  the  field  and  marched  to  Mor- 
ris TdlKrn  into  winter  quarters.  General  Put- 
nam's family  went  into  Connedicut  for  a  few 
weels.  In  December,  the  General  began  his 
journey  to  Morris  Town.  Upon  the  road 
betwcdb  Pomfrct  and  Hartford  he  felt  an  un- 


(       '83      ) 

ufual  torpor  flowly  pervading  his  right  hand  andl 
foot.  This  heavinels  crept  gradually  on,  and 
untill  it  had  deprived  hinn  of  the  ufc  of  his 
limbs  on  that  fide,  in  a  confiderable  degree>. 
before  he  reached  the  houfe  of  his  frienil  Co* 
lonel  Wadfworth.  Still  he  was  unwilling 
to  confider  his  diforder  of  the  paralytic  kind 
and  endeavoured  to  Ihake  it  off  by  exertion. 
Having  found  that  impoflible,  a  temporary 
deje6tion,  difguifed  however  under  a  veil  of 
affumedchearfulnefs,  fucceeded.  Butreafon, 
philofophy,  and  religion  foon  reconciled  him 
to  his  fate.  In  that  fituation  he  has  conftant- 
ly  remained,  favored  with  fuch  a  portion  of 
bodily  adivity  as  enables  him  to^  walk  and 
to  ride  modo^ately  -,  and  retaining  unimpaired 
his  retifh  for  enjoyment,  his  love  of  pleafan- 
try,  his  ftrength^if  memory  and  all  the  facul- 
ties of  his  mind.  As  a.  proof  that  the  pow- 
ers of  memory  arc  n^weakened,  it  ought  to 
be  obferved,  that  he  nas  lately  repeated  from 
recolledtion  all  the  adventures  of  his  life> 
which  are  here  recorded,  and  which  had  for- 
merly been  communicated  to  the  compiler  in 
detached  converfations. . 

In  patient  yet  fearlefs  expedation  of  the  ap- 
proach of  THE  King  of  Terrors,  whom  he 
hath  full  often  faced  in  the  field  of  blood,  the 
Chriftian  hero  now  enjoys  iadomcftic  retire- 


(      »84      > 


nr-nt  the  fruit  of  his  early  induftry.  Ha- 
ving i  n  youth  provided  a  competent  fubfiftcncc 
for  old  age,  he  was  fecured  from  the  danger 
of  penury  and  diflrcfs,  to  which,  fo  many  Of- 
ficers and  Soldiers  worn  out  in  the  public  fcr- 
vice  have  been  reduced.  To  illuftrate  his 
merits  the  more  fully,  this  Effay  will  be  con- 
cluded with  a  copy  of  the  laft  letter  written 
to  him,  by  General  Waftiington,  in  his  mili- 
lary  eharader.      ^  ^ 


»  I 


Head-Quarters,  2d  June,  1783 
"  Dear  Sir,  .0 


"  Your  favor  of  the  aoih  of  May  I  rcceiv- 
"  cd  with  much  pieaiure,  For  I  can  aflurc 
**.  you  that  a^iong  the  many  worthy  and  me- 
"  ritorious  Officers,  with  whom  I  have  had 
**  the  happinef*?  to  baconnefted  in  fervicc 
**  through  the  courfe  of  this  war,  and  from 
**  whofe  cheerful  affiftance  in  the  various  and 


trying  viciflitudes  of  a  complicated  conteft, 
the  name  of  a  Putnam  is  not  forgotten  "i  not 
"^•will  be,  but  with  that  ftroke  of  time  which 
**^  Ih all  obliterate  from  my  mind  the  remem- 
**  brance  of  all  thofe  toils  and  fatigues, 
**  through  which  we  have  ftruggled  for  the 
prefer vation    and   edablifhment    of  (be 


<c 


ti 


(       i85      ) 


Ha- 

fiftcncc 
danger 
ny  Of- 
)lic  fcr- 
ate  hit 
ic  con- 
written 
s  mill- 


Z|3- 


rccciv- 
n  affure 
ind  me- 
ive  had 
fcrvicc 
d   from 
ious  and 
conteft> 
'ten  r  nor 
le  which 
remem- 
^atigues, 
for  the 
of   t;h« 


m  - 


!•-». 


«( 


Rights y    Liberties  and  Independence  of  our 
Country, 


**  Your  congratulations  on  the  happy- 
"  profpei^ls  of  Peace  and  Independent  fecu- 
**  rity,  with  their  attendant  blciTings  to  the 
"  United  States,  I  receive  with  u  fa- 
**  tisfadtion  -,  and  beg  that  you  will  cept  a 
"  return  of  my  gratulations  to  you  this 
"  aufpicious  event — aq^event,  in  .vinch, 
great  as  it  is  in  itfel^nd  glorious  as  it 
will  probably  be  in  its  confequcnces,  you 
have  a  right  to  participate  largely,  fronn 
the  diftinguilhed  part  you  have  contribu^ 
'*  ted  towards-  it&  attainment. . 


€t 


tc 


Ci 


a 


c<-. 


Biit  while  I  (contemplate  the  greatncfa  > 
"  of  the  obje<5t  for  which  we  have  contended, 
**  and  felicitate  you  on  the  happy  iffue  of  our 
**■  toils  and  labours,  .|vhich  have  terminated 
**"  with  fuch  general  fatisfa(flion  ;  I  lament 
"  thatvou  fliould  feel  the  unQ;rateful  returns 
"of  A  Country,  in  whofe  fervice  you  have 
*'  exhaufted  your  bodily  (Irength  and  expen- 
"  ded  the  vigour  of  a  youthful  con(?kui  ion. 
"  I  wifli  however,  that  your  ex[7eftdt'ions  of 
"  returning  liberality  may  be  verified.  I  ■■ 
have  a  hope  they  may  : — but  fliould  fi^ey 
not,  your  cafe  will  not  be  a  fingular  oH^/  '/v- 
graiitud,  hai   hen  experienced  in  alia^^f, 


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Photograpnic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


Z 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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0 


& 


u 


(      i86      ) 


"  and  Republics  in  particular,  have  ever 
been  famed  for  the  exercije  of  that  unnatural^ 

*'   and  SORDID  VICE. 


« 


'■*, 


"  The.  Secretary  at  War,  who  is  now 
**  Jigpic,.  informs  me  that  you  have  ever  been 
**  coftfififjced  as  entitled  to  full  pay,,  fmcc 
**  your  abfence  from  the  field  j,  and  that  you 
*^  will  ftill  be  confidered  in  that  light  untill 
**  the  clofe  of  the  war  :  at  which  period  you 
**  will  be  equally  entitled  to  the  fame  emolu- 
**  meats  of  half-pay  or  commutation,,  as  other 
"  officers  of  your  rank.  The  fame  opinion 
is  alfo,  given  by  the  Pay  Maftec  General, 
who  is  now  with  the  army,  impowered  by 
Mr.  Morris  for  the  fettlement  of  all  their 
accaunts,,  and  who  will  attend  to  youfs 
irhcnever  you  ihall  thii^  proper  td  fend 
on  for  the  purpofe  i,  y^blch.  it  will  proba- 
**  bly  be  beft  for  you^^  doia  a  fhort  time* 

"  I  ANTICIPATE,,  with  plcafurc,,  the  day 
*'  (and  that  I  truft  not  far  off)  when  I  fhall 
"  quit  the  bufy  fcenes  of  a  military  employ- 
"  meiil^nd  retire  to  the  more  tranquil  walks 
"  ofdom^fticlife.  la  thatyOr  whatever  other 
"  Tituation  Providence  may  difpofe  ofmy 
"  future  days,  the  remembrance  of  :|^JtE 
"many  friendships  and  connection^  I 

"   HAVE  HAD  THE  HAPPINESS   TO  CONTRACT 


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(      »87      ) 


al 


ow 

:en 

nee 

^ou 

itiU 

/ou 

>lu- 

ther 

lion 

iby 
:hcir 
)ur*s 
fend 
ba- 


"  WITH  THE  Gentlemen  of   the  ArmTi 


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« 


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WILUBE  ONE  OF  MY  MOST  GRATEFUL  RE- 
FLECTIONS. Under  this  contemplation^  and 
imprejfed  with  thejentiments  of  ^enevolenci 
and  regard,  1  commend  you,  my  dear  Sir^  my. 
other  friends y  andy  with  ihemy  the  interefts^ 
and  happinefs  of  our  dear  Country  to  tb§ 

"    KEEPING  AND  PROTECTION  OF  AlMIGHTY 

"  God." 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  ficc, 
George  Washington.. 

To  the  Honorable 

Maj,of  General  Putn|p3> 


»?'*■ 


le* 


4,^ 


■'A;\ 


day 

IfhaU 

>loy- 

alks 

»ther 


mi 

!^  I 

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